Preparing Utsteinen Site
Before the Prinoth tractors start hauling back the 120 containers filled with the Station's elements, certain work had to be completed on site. This picture gallery paints the picture of the various work that was carried out on site during the first six weeks of teh BELARE 2007-2008 expedition.
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Preparing anchoring points in the loose substrate and permafrost.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Alain Hubert cooking in the bivouac at the Japanese Asuka Station.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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View From the top of the north part of the garage.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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The wind turbine plate and site traction testing on the Dywidag resine bars. Tests were carried out to see how well-made the bars were: at what force can they be released, how do they react when traction is maintained, etc.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Bernard and Paul are finalising the installation of the automatic watering system for the kitchen. The snow is melted inside the tank before it is sent by pump to the kitchen sink when requested. Inside the tent, a metal tank has been installed on the stove and provides boiling water all day long.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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You may be able to see in the background the basler plane flying in to bring working equipment and food.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Roy,Gaelle, Man Ram, Dieter, Philippe and Julien testing their capacity to pull someone out of a crevasse. The rope is attached to the front of the Prinoth tractor, simulating a plausible situation the team could find itself in.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Heating system for fixing the resine into the 6 metre long tubes which will hold the station's anchoring plates. The workmen have to drill 50 holes for the tubes in total.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Hammering the nails into the garage pannels.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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First structure for the coffrage before pouring in the concrete. This is necessary because the rocks on the Utsteinen Ridge are uneven and unstable. The concrete platform will be used to drill solid anchoring points for the station.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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A real curtain of clouds lies in front of the Sør Rondane Mountains. Over the base camp, the weather is perfectly clear. This phenomena is due to major pressure differences. You can see the Pingvinane Nunatak (Penguin Nunatak) such as it looks like from far away.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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The airstrip is 1.5 km away from the base camp.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Utsteinen base camp at 8 in the evening.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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After the pneumatic hammer used for the drilling had broken down, the compressor had its share of bad luck too. Drilling on site had to be interrupted again, until the mechanic had repaired the machine.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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The Russian ice-class cargo ship Ivan Papanin unloading material and equipment for the Norwegian Troll Station at 5° East.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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A total of 6 wind turbines have now been mounted, one of which is already undergoing running tests.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
