Chinese Takeway

The weather has been constantly cold at about -27 degrees C but with no or very little wind so it hasn't been too bad, but now with the wind picking up and the temperatures again heading below -30 degrees and also with the wind chill has made exposed skin painful so careful wrapping up is required.

FBL Shadow Over Dome A
Arial of AGAP-North

As the survey is progressing it is becomming more and more routine,so it was nice that the Chinese traverse rolled into camp on New Years Eve. The Chinese will be providing the logistics to help remove our camp from AGAP-N when they return North from Dome A. We first saw their traverse from the air the day before as we were returning from the days final survey. With all the building materials for their base at Dome A the landtrain was quite sizeable and contained 10+ vehicles with a further number slight further back been repaired.

After the Chinese were given the tour of our camp and FBL they took us across to their land train for the tour of vehicles and sledges. The accommodation was better than some Antarctic bases and the vehicles all looked in good condition. Tonight dinner is Chinese as we both swapped food items though maybe we did get the better deal on the food front though we are unsure about 1000 year old eggs! They were around for a few hours long enough for a group photo as they were keen to get up to Dome A and start building their base, but will return to take away the spent fuel drums.

Land Train Viewed From AGAP-North Camp
Arial of land train

Chinese/Australian/BAS Group Photo AGAP-N

New Year passed and was noted but the work and survey work continued relentlessly, since arriving we have flown survey continuously, and with the weather fax the pilots have been able to plan flights that allowed us to survey even though the weather forecasts were dubious.