Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: On Ice

8 Responses

  • Ross Mason,

    Squeak..Crunch..Squeak..Crunch.. Crunch.. Crunch. Everywhere there is Crunch.

    OAE of 1981-82 here. I gather you enjoyed it Damien. Pictures to die for. My trip down was 4 1/2 hours down and 4 1/2 back because of the weather. Then having another go a coupla days later. I killed my new two day old radio/cassette player with one horrendous static explosion when I didn't take that second to dump the charge after taking my down jacket off. I spent the quietest time in my life sitting way out in the Windless Bight listening to the blood flow in my ears. Christmas at Vanda Station in a multicultural piss up of our National "special brews". Flying in the Gentles. Camping at Lake Bonney looking after Chinese and Japanese scientists sampling the salty waters of the lake. DJing on Armed Forces Radio. Opening the Scott Base bar at 5pm...there was no closing time...Work was listening to the magma of Erebus via seismo sensors and sampling the Earths Magnetic field. Taking a mattress, two sleeping bags, multi layers of clothing and a camera and lying on the snow away from the base watching- and seemingly listening - to the Auroral curtains billowing in the heavens.

    All this finished, for reasons I cannot explain, balling my eyes out as I waited in the departure hut in the last hours of a year on ice.

    It is still THE experience of my life.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • linger, in reply to Ross Mason,

    balling my eyes out [...] still THE experience of my life

    I can see how it would be; that describes quite a different reaction than mere bawling.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report

  • Damian Christie, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Thanks for sharing those memories Ross - your experience sounds incredible vs my short 'tourist' trip, but still something I will always remember!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    Most excellent. Very jealous but also very happy you made it :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Ross Mason, in reply to linger,

    I didn’t linger long enough to notice!! Heh. What a bawls up.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I was born the same year as Scott Base,
    at the start of the IGY, but in Chchch…

    Once late last century when I used to do graphic work for the NZ Antarctic Programme – later Antarctica NZ – I had to stitch together
    a panorama of Cape Roberts to present to the project leader (part of ongoing Andrill research) - it was also how they had to leave the site after the project finished.

    The photos were taken on the day I was born as part of the IGY!
    it was a spooky feeling seeing those reflected photons,
    trapped in silver amber since my first air-breathing moment
    some of that same snow may have been core-sampled
    as they drilled back through time…

    I wonder if (hope) Antarctica NZ has updated my amateurish illustrations in the reversible Field and First Aid Manual?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Ana Simkiss,

    Fabulous Damian, great writing with lots of striking details. The staticky station-eek!

    Freemans Bay • Since Nov 2006 • 141 posts Report

  • Ross Mason,

    Attachment

    Speaking of International Geophysical Year…..
    I found this set of posters put out in that year. This is one of them.
    Printed and laminated a set and they are behind my desk at work.

    The science is still so relevant today!!!

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

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