Field Travel Training Part 2

Day 2 of our trip we headed from Trajer Ridge Melon around to Watts Hutt via Crooked Lake Apple.  This gave the 3 "trainees" more time in learning how to navigate.
This map shows from about 2km south west of Trajer Ridge the route we took to Watts Hut.

As you head west from Trajer Ridge, there is very little ice and snow to see.  There are a few frozen lakes along the way, but the landscape starts looking like the moon.

It is a geologist haven around the vestfolds.  There is a huge variety of rocks.  Here is one of the more interesting ones to be seen.

This is perhaps the only suspension bridge in Antarctica.  By mid January, under this bridge will be a creek flowing out from Watts Lake into the Ellis Fjord, just north of Watts Hut.

 

No running water yet, just a heap of snow built up underneath.

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Watts Hut was to be our overnight stay. Very comfortable and nicely laid out, there are four beds, a dining table and a kitchen.

Relaxing after a long hike.  Our dinner consisted of "Dehydes" (just add water), actually rather tasty. There are a good variety of meals such as Beef and Green Bean, Spaghetti Bolognaise, Tuna Mornay and everyone's favourite, Lamb Casserole. Nichol also managed to make a Cheese Cake.  Not the type you are pobably thinking, but very edible when there is not much else to chose from.  Once again, Mike and Dave opted to Bivvy outside, while the 3 trainees slept in the comfort of the hut.

The next day, we had the trek back to Davis via Marine Plains Apple.

 

Inside Marine Plains Apple where we stopped for lunch and I managed to have a small power nap.

 

Crossing Ellis Fjord from Marine Plains Apple. 

This was to be one of the last crossings on sea ice before all sea ice travel was closed.  Without being able to cross here, means the long way around back to Watts Hut and crossing at the Ellis rapids.

All up over the 2 and half days by GPS we had walked just over 50kms.  Walking back into the station, the only thought I had was planning our next trip.