Beaver Lake 4

 Leaving the field hut heading back down to Beaver Lake. This time with Frank flying John in the front and Jerry next to me in the back.

 Flew up through the valleys via the scenic route pictures don't really do it justice.

Refuelling the Twin Otter for the trip back home.

 Part of the team from left me, Bob the Twin Otter pilot, Frank the helicopter pilot and cousin Dan a plant operator.

 The lake apparently the ice is 10m thick.

Inside the Twin Otter with some of the rubbish from the clean up.

Beaver Lake 3

Heading up the hill from Beaver Lake to the field hut so we can begin work.

 The reason for the trip was to evaluate and if possible start removing full drums of aviation fuel frozen in the lake and clean up around the field hut.

On the left is one of many barricaded area's with old camping and survival gear including food left over the year's. We collected this stuff and placed it in the yellow nets to be slung back to Beaver Lake  along with the fuel drums.

 Getting sum drums ready to be slung.

 It got pretty busy.

 Up and away it goes.

At the end of the day all drums had been removed from the lake and three bags of debri brought back down from the field hut ready to be taken back to base by the Twin Otter.

Trip to Beaver Lake 2

Refueling at Sampson island.

 The accommodation  typical in this part of the world.

As you can see fairly isolated not a sole to been seen. No refuelling tankers, fire fighting facilities, ground support, just back to basics with very skilled pilot's and mainteance crew who no there stuff.

The island had spectaicular veiws allround.

 Back in the air heading to Beaver Lake.

Finally arriving at our destination.

A trip to Beaver Lake part 1

 In the cockpit of the chopper with Doug the pilot about to take off on a three hour flight to Beaver Lake via Sampson Island for refuelling.

 Sitting in the back after refuelling at Sampson Island to give John a go in the front.

 Some spectacular scenery.

The Russian ship we come across on the way down in the Sothern Ocean aboard the Aurora. Apparently they are parked up and the team live on the boat while constructing the new Indian base some 30 kilometers away.

 This ice breaker was cutting a path ahead of the other ship towards the new base not sure why i assume to get the bigger ice strengthed ship closer.

Landing at Sampson Island for refueling. Note the drums of aviation fuel stockpilled.

Out walking on the sea ice while it last's

 Wearing spiky boot chains as the ice is so slippery

 Not bad for a back drop

 Being up close to my little fury friends

 The team taking time out checking the crack in the sea ice.

The hill with some human tales of them moving on to the other side. Note the three crosses on top.
One was from falling from height out in the field, the next from a industrial accident, the person was burnt while painting the inside of a tank after a spark ignited the atmosphere  (with-in the tank), and the third a consequence of suicide putting to rest the demons with-in, all 5 years apart. Glad things only happen in three's

Icebergs from a mate called Horse

The pictures are about as good to the real thing as you can get. Will be spending the weekend together with Horse, Goldie and Tom who are up there with photography venturing across the sea ice on Quad bikes.

Out and about

 Whet for a 4km walk from base late afternoon on a dull cold day to Anchorage island across the sea ice to meet a few locals.

 Some fury little friends going about there business. Not the one in the middle a very rare Albion penguin that comes back to the same spot every season.

 Here is a closer picture poor bugger don't look real happy.

The first elephant seal that has parked up on base. They don't do to much except sleep and smell.