Volume 11, 1958 - The Arctic Circle - Home

VOL XI No 1
THE ARCTIC CIRCULAR
5
In late June Hattersley-Smith and Arnold made a trip
by dog sledge into the snowfields of the United States Range. A
pit 20 feet deep was dug in the firn of the ice cap at 6,000 feet
and the stratification was studied. It is estimated that strata back
to the early 1930's were uncovered. The second ascent of Mount
Oxford was made and the elevation, 7,250 feet, and position of
the peak were determined. The first ascent of this peak had been
made in 1935 by A. W. Moore of the Oxford University Ellesmere
Land Expedition.
During late June and July short geological reconnaissance
trips were made by base camp personnel, and the lake water and
bottom studies were continued. Until the middle of July, when the
lake level rOse rapidly and the shore lead widened, travel was
particularly rapid as the snowmobile could cruise easily On the dry
lake ice. When the shore lead opened sufficiently (about July 14),
an aluminum boat with 5 H.P o motor was used. The boat, with its
three metal keels, proved to be admirably suited for skidding over
the candled. ice at places where wind had closed the lead.
For a week in late July drifting ice made the lake
unnavigable, and Deane made a short trip to Henrietta Nesmith
Glacier using dogs with packs. Travel by boat was fairly
dependable howe-:er and trips were made to both ends of Lake
Hazen to carry out geological work, studies of the meltwater
streams, and to sound the lake,
On August 10 Arnold, Filo .• and Sandstrom arrived at
base camp from the ice cap camp he.ving carried a level survey to
within a few miles of the camp. The remainder of the ice cap
party tied down the camp for the winter. and with the dogs sledged
down Gilman Glacier on August 13. All the records, some instruments,
and eight pups, which were born during the summer, were brought
by back-pack and dog-pack down "Gilman River" to Lake Hazen.
On August 17 and 18 a helicopter from the U.S. Coast
Guard icebreaker Eastwind ferried the four scie:ltists who were to
form the winter party, their (lear, and 15 tons 'Of supplies in to the
Lake Hazen base camp and ferried the Bummer party, the dogs. and
• the scientific records and collections out to the ship. The Eastwind
arrived back at Thule Air Base from Chan