Packing down and at the same time setting up a camp that will be ready to go next year is a complicated puzzle. Now, most of the infrastructure is in place so that the put-in crew next year will have everything up and running in a few days. Now, we are watching, with increased interest, the weather forecasts for Wednesday and Thursday, so far it looks good for a flight that will take us all out of camp and to Kangerlussuaq. Right now, it looks as if we’ll complete all our tasks; but we will be busy the next couple of days. This evening, we all saw the movie, that Willi Dansgaard made about the original GRIP project in 1989 – 1993. It is worth a thought, that the original GRIP camp is 15-20 m below us, buried in the snow.

What we have done over the weekend:

1. Cable and pipe well finished. Cable from 35 kW generator reaches only dome.
2. The last cable duct casting with balloon failed today. Snow collapsed onto balloon due to too low pressure. It has been repaired.
3. Groomed skiway and apron for Basler.
4. Covered the dome base. The cover will be finished tomorrow.
5. Storing cargo in cargo line.
6. Made winter hills.
7. Carpenter’s workshop now setup.

Weather: Again, mostly overcast and poor contrast. And warm. Temp. -7 C to -4 C, winds 6-10 kt from SSW turning to WNW.

FL GRIP, J.P. Steffensen