The Summer Camp Preparations

We have now started preparing for the coming summers in right earnest, and along with it for our return back home.

The first batch of 15 members of the 28th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica is scheduled to arrive on 5th Nov. Hence the preparation of the summer camp is in full swing. Snow has been cleared from inside and in front of the living accommodation and the toilets. The emergency medical supplies will soon be moved from the Annapurna hut, which serves as a refreshment hut for the summer team. The Dodabeta hut, which is the recreation hut for the summer team, too will be cleared soon. All these tasks would have been accomplished by the time this blog is posted.

Our containers with material to be back loaded to India are now ready and have been shifted to Sankalp. They will be taken to the shelf in the joint convoy with the next team.

Work is going on at full swing at the airport as well. The Novo team is on the job. The runway is being smoothened out, the cafeteria and the living accommodation tents are being put up. The first incoming flight is scheduled for 31st October, and the first outgoing flight leaves on 2nd November. We are expected to have a few international guests, mostly scientists in the summers.

There is no period of darkness here now. On 30 Oct 2008, the sun rose at 1:37am and set at 8:16pm. There is no period of darkness now. Dusk is followed by dawn at about 11pm. The sun is shining brightly by the time I go to bed. Though we are five and a half hours behind IST, here the sun rises earlier than it does in India.

Time really flies in Antarctica. I feel as if I came to Antarctica just a few weeks back, but the whole year has passed by. These last few days are difficult to pass and we are all eagerly awaiting our return flight in December. Each day counts now. But before that, the lively and busy summer season awaits us.