During the night the windspeed here at GRIP increased to 37kts gusting 46kts with both snowfall and drifting snow. So a real snow storm with visibility decreasing to 50-100m and no surface contrast. Luckily this nasty weather was well predicted so we had secured camp, and all knew that the day might be mostly devoted to indoor work. Therefore, before lunch we all had various indoor tasks to do, with Jonathan and Carlos doing some much needed cleaning in the dome, Bo catching up on various reporting duties, while Thomas and Sverrir worked on getting the hot water system operational. Around 11 o’clock we did, however, realize that our weather station was giving bad wind direction readings, and JP ventured outside in the storm to bring the instrument inside for repairs. After fixing the wind direction finder and the anemometer, JP, Jonathan and Sepp got the station back up again outside. Around lunch time the storm started letting up, and outdoor work was again possible. Hence, we could clear out snow from our outhouse and the carpenters garage, start levelling snowdrifts in camp, and get the heavy sleds transported from the winter hills into camp. Furthermore, Carlos and Jonathan started raising skiway markers in the late afternoon. In the cupola, JP looked into why our airband radio was not working, coming to the conclusion that it simply needs to be replaced. As usual Anders took good care of all of us with nice hot meals and even a tasty cake for the afternoon!
What we did Monday:
- Got hot water system operational in the dome.
- Cleaned and did laundry in the dome.
- Repaired dishwasher leak one more time.
- Identified that airband radio in cupola needs a replacement.
- Cleared new snow drifts inside outhouse and carpenters garage.
- Started raising markers on skiway.
- Started levelling snow drifts in camp.
- Moved heavy sleds from winter hills into camp.
- Repaired camp weather station
Weather today: Temp decreasing from to 12C to -27C, with a snow storm lasting until lunch, then letting up and giving way to a fairly calm and even sunny afternoon and evening. Wind 37kts, gusting 46kts from North until around lunch then decresing to 10-15kts and turning SE.
FL, Bo Vinther
