Arriving at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica for 2012-2013 Season

After a delayed departure caused by bad weather, the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica team finally has landed at Utsteinen. As usual, the first tasks are to make sure all systems are in good shape before starting them, and awakening the station from its winter sleep. Then there is the tedious task of clearing the winter's accumulated snow from the garage doors and the solar panels.

Seeing Princess Elisabeth Antarctica for the first time is always emotional

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
From the plane, everything looks good, including the mobile units and labs in front of the station.

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
Heading towards Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, and passing by the mobile units we deploy in the field for scientific expeditions

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
The satellite dish which allows us to monitor and command the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica from Belgium during the winter.

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
There is a tremendous quantity of accumulated snow this year, about twice last year's amount Greg is wondering how long it's going to take to remove it all.

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
Using the old Komatsu bulldozer to remove snow, and dig a passage to the garage doors. Our best snow removal tools, the Prinoth Tractors, are still inside.

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
Greg and Kristof are doing a good job with the venerable japanese bulldozer. 11 hours of work and the doors are in sight.

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
Meanwhile, Olivier is clearing the thermal solar panels of accumulated snow in order to start the snow melter. The production of potable water has to start as soon as possible.

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
Now that the doors are cleared, both prinoths are ready to come out of the garage

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
Alain is clearing the snow around the emergency station, a couple of repurposed containers located at the winter container park nearby.

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert
We still have a few days left to get the station ready for this season. Scientists will soon arrive and all these mobile units and labs will go in the field with them.

© International Polar Foundation / Alain Hubert