Monday 2 May 2005
Sundown
Sun down is an important date at Halley. Today the Sun set for the last time in 105 days, marking the beginning of the true Halley winter. Now I can understand that over 3 months of complete darkness might sound a bit grim to most people but strangely these winter months are my favourite time down here. To really experience Antarctica you have to see it during the winter. The howling gales, the freezing temperatures, the crazy skies (3MB AVI movie), that's what I came down here to see.
Anyway, one of the many traditions at Halley is for the flag that flies above base in the summer to be lowered from the flagpole by the oldest member of the wintering team (Jeff again this year). Then in August when the Sun returns a new flag will be raised. The weather down here takes its toll on the flags and by the time it was lowered it had torn so badly there was barely half the material left. Each year it is raffled off (this year Petra Schmidt got to keep it) then we had the traditional sundown barbeque out on the open platform.
Here's a photo of the 2005 wintering team:
The 2005 wintering team at sun down. Front row (left to right): Jeff Cohen (Passive Engineer), Mike Rooney (Communications Manager), Petra Schmidt (Doctor), Frances Williams (Meteorologist), Vanessa O'Brien (Meteorlogist), Ian Coxan (Field Assistant), Jamie Koplick (Plumber), Matt Butters (Generator Mechanic), Kevin O'Donnell (Chef), Miriam Iorwerth (SHARE Engineer). Back row (left to right): Dan Jones (Carpenter and Steel Erector), Steve Clive (Electrician), Gareth Wale (Vehicle Mechanic), Simon Coggins (Data Manager), Craig Nicholls (Meteorologist), Bryn Jones (AIS Engineer).
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