Apprent-ICE Blog #5

We have recently completed a changeover of the heating boiler in the Hillary Field Centre (HFC). The new boiler is bigger than the original, with additional heating capacity which will be more efficient when heating the HFC. Pete, fully equipped with the required safety gear assisted our Project Carpenter Karl by accessing the roof where they removed and installed a new flue.

Work has started on the new temporary food storage units for frozen food, fresh fruit and vegetables. The store will be made from three shipping containers fixed to a pre-fabricated steel frame structure. The first stage of construction is to drill one metre into permafrost (permafrost is when the ground is frozen solid all year round) to anchor the units down. We then freeze threaded rods into the ground and bolt the container feet to it.

By the end of this week we hope to have the steel frame erected and utilise a crane from McMurdo Station to lift the containers into place. The last "freshies" for the next six weeks will be coming in this Saturday. The container stores will be used for the next five years until the project to renovate the kitchen is completed.

Weather conditions have been pretty cold, with -30°C wind chill. At this temperature your eyelids and even your nose hairs start to freeze!