Live from Antarctica: Friday November 28th
The base camp looks a lot emptier: nine of the 24 people have left this morning for the coast (the BELISSIMA team to its study point and Alain in reconnaissance of the coastline, both accompanied by one of the mechanics). Tomorrow, the six Japanese scientists will also leave to set up their camp. That will leave ten of us here until the next BELARE members arrive, around December 18th.
The departure this morning was quite spectacular. It's the first traverse to leave this year: 2 Prinoth tractors with containers and "living quarters". They look like a "train". Many of us had come to watch the departure, waving goodbye to them as if we weren't to see them again in the next 6 months. But they will be back in a couple of weeks.
For those staying at the base camp, it's "business as usual": carpentry, mechanics, camp management, kitchen work and medical service. The wind has been blowing steadily for the past couple of days and a thick layer of clouds is to be seen to the north: more "typical" weather coming...
Nathalie Pattyn
Picture: Alain Hubert in the Belgica Mountains - © International Polar Foundation