Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

were impressive with misty greys, squalls of snow driving over the sea amongst
the bergs and a small patch of sunset colours. To the west the Sandefjord Peaks
contrasted with the leaden grey of the sky and to their west were the Inaccessible
Islands, stark and jagged in a break in the clouds. An army of icebergs lay to the
west and south, in extended array. We skied across to Tioga Hill from which we
had good views over Cummings Cove to Moe Island in the southwest. It all
looked snow free. We returned to Snow Hill and had a fast run down by Jane
Peak Col and Marble Valley, Adrian losing a ski on the way, and got back to base
at 11 pm.
Next day was a Saturday - scrubout day - which we all tackled and then
cleaning up around the base. It snowed quite heavily in fierce squalls. The
Saturday night party was lively and we got to bed at 2 o’clock in the morning. By
contrast Sunday was fine and sunny, but we all got up late. We left at 3 o’clock to
go skiing, first up Snow Hill in bright sunshine, before thick grey cloud came
down. Jerry and I decided to go over to Cummings Cove in the southwest,
leaving Barry and Adrian to return via Garnet Hill. The snow surface was very
good, but my legs were aching, partly because my boots didn't fit the skis too well
and I hadn't much control. The last bit was rough and steep and we left the skis at
the edge of the ice sheet and approached Cummings over very rocky ground. One
objective was to find a site for a hut; the best place seemed to be the southwest
end of the beach and we had a look at it. Then we examined the lakes which had a
very high density of crustaceans - Pseudoboeckella were particularly abundant on
the algal felt near the shore. The stream flowing from the northernmost lake
supported a very dense growth of filamentous algae. There were several tagged
Weddells and an elephant. Returning, we climbed a rocky buttress to a point well
up on the icecap before putting on skis, then travelled across the Macleod Glacier,
avoiding the conspicuous bergschrund. There were some very fine light effects
amongst the bergs to the west.
Next day, as the divers were about to go out after lunch Owen saw a leopard
seal and since Eric wanted one for bait for his fish traps he went out in the boat
and shot it in the water - it sank. With Owen, Pete and Mike I went out to retrieve
it from the bottom, Pete and Mike in diving gear. We located it but first the rope
slipped off and then we had to return to shore because Pete had run out of air.
The result was that both divers got rather cold. They found the leopard again and
raised it to the surface using their ‘Fenzy's’ (inflatable life jackets), I put a hook in
and we towed it ashore. It was a 9 ft 6 in female, with the usual formidable array
of teeth, and very beautiful. We spent a few hours measuring and examining it; I
made some collections and helped Eric to flense it. After another very dull day
with snowstorms, I went to North Point by boat with Humphrey and Owen, on a
very dull, cold day of strong winds. I was interested to see the cliffs of Robin Peak
at close quarters. Once there I helped Humph with his recording while Owen
collected moss cores. It was too late to count the penguins as planned. The
colouring of the Adelie and chinstrap rookeries is quite different, the former red,
the latter whitish - and the different colonies should show up very well in colour
photos from the air for censuses.
When not out in the field I was taking opportunity to talk to the biologists and
others about their work, which seemed to be going well. We listened to BBC
24