Mese: Gennaio 2022

Researchers have discovered a new colony of gentoo penguins on Andersson Island on the Antarctic Peninsula

On: By: Gianni Varetto

The crew of the M/V Arctic Sunrise, an icebreaker vessel owned by Greenpeace, were sailing through Antarctica’s Weddell Sea this month when they saw something they didn’t expect.

“One of the scientists on board, Alex Borowicz  was looking through the binoculars from the bridge of our ship” Louisa Casson, an ocean campaigner with Greenpeace UK currently on board the Arctic Sunrise, told Mongabay in a video interview. “He spotted what he thought looked like a penguin colony, where we had seen no previous records.”

As the ship drew near, the crew discovered a colony of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) consisting of about 75 chicks living on Andersson Island on the east side of the Antarctic Peninsula, previously unknown to science. Scientists say this is the furthest south the species has ever been seen in this part of Antarctica, and posit their presence here to the impacts of climate change.

Read more at:
https://news.mongabay.com/2022/01/as-climate-change-melts-antarctic-ice-gentoo-penguins-venture-further-south/

R/V Arctic Sunrise is an ice-strengthened vessel operated by Greenpeace. The vessel was built in Norway in 1975 and has a gross tonnage of 949, a length of 50.5 metres (166 ft) and a maximum speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph). Under the original name of Polarbjørn (“Polar bear”), she was used as a sealing ship. The vessel was subsequently used by the French government. Greenpeace purchased the ship in 1995.

Little Dome C (Beyond Epica Camp) WAP MNB-15, New Entry on WAP- WADA Directory

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Little Dome C, is an area of 10 square km, located at 75° 17’ 57” South, 122° 26’ 43” East, about 40 km from the Italian-French Concordia Station, on the East Antarctic plateau,  one of the most extreme places on the Earth.

On 1st June 2019 the Beyond EPICA project started with the aim of drilling for and recovering ice from up to 1.5 Million years ago in Antarctica. The project will last seven years and is funded by the European Commission with 11 million euros. It is coordinated by Carlo Barbante, director of the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council of Italy (Cnr-Isp) and professor at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

The project involves twelve European and non-European international research institutes and will benefit from synergies with the French Polar Institute and the Italian National Antarctic Programme activities at the Italian-French Concordia Station.

The actual campaign, at Little Dome C will last until January 2022.

At the light of the brief activity by David Brunet F4FKT who did sign FT4YM/p from Little Dome C, from 15 to 20 December 2021 (info posted by Mehdi F5PFP), a New WAP Reference has been given as  WAP MNB-15.

QSL for FT4YM/p has to be requested direct to F5PFP

TNX F4FKT & F5PFP

“Antarctica”, the first fully electric polar  vehicle by Venturi

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Inspired by HSH Prince Albert II of  Monaco Exploration,  after he visited Antarctica in 2009, the very first EV’s (Electric Vehicles) it’s currently in service at Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Station (WAP BEL-Ø2). The Prince, wanted to develop a machine that could operate on the Icy Continent without affecting the ecosystem.

See: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/venturi-antarctica-first-fully-electric-polar-research-vehicle?fbclid=IwAR3XEKM5-ihmc-vqfzTe7bTbOIIUOrw0Btc5gEOI0MEVNUDhPqIkIeVHtb8

Measuring 3400cm long and 2180cm high, the “Antarctica EV” weighs 2.5 tons  and can carry up to six people plus equipment. There’s room for two in the front cabin, with an adaptable rear section that features four folding seats.

In operation at the Princess Elisabeth Research Station since December 10, Venturi’s electric tracked vehicle provides an environmentally responsible means of transport for the staff at the zero-emission Belgian base.
Read more at: Behind the scenes of the Venturi Antarctica, the first electric polar exploration vehicle (monaco-tribune.com)

Good chance for Polar Philately’s collectors  to get special envelopes to celebrate the event!
TNX Eddy De Busschere @ Belgian Polar Expedition Society (BPES)

Valery Sushkow  RW3GW/RMØL, Honorary President of RRC, awarded  with a Medal

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Valery Sushkov  (RW3GW/RMØL) Honorary President of the Russian Robinson Club, is a great Expeditionner with several activities in Antarctica and in the Arctic.

I had a plesure to meet Valery RW3GW and his brother Albert RV3GW  about 30 years ago when,  both were young island chasers  and we became good friends!

Recently, on January 17, 2022, the Moscow office of the Law and Order-Shield Foundation did award the explorer-traveler  Valery Sushkov (RW3GW-RMØL) with a commemorative Medal  “In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica by Russian navigators F. Bellingshausen and M. Lazarev on the sloops Vostok and Mirny.“

The award was presented to Valery Sushkov RMØL by the head of the organizing committee of the project “Russian Antarctica. History in continuation” Alexander Ilyin.

Earlier in 1999-2000,  Valery Sushkov was a member of the International Complex Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole (CE9/R3CA, R3RRC/ANT), a participant and organizer of more than 100 different expeditions, and in 2021 he was awarded the Geographical Oscar in the nomination “Travel & Expedition” for the Pacific Historical and Geographical Expedition “Marine Heritage of Primorsky Kray” and the postal experiment POSTVENTURE postventure.ru.

The medal was minted specifically for the round-the-world expedition of sailboats of Rosrybolovstvo by order of the Presidential Grants Fund and the non-profit partnership for promoting the development of cinema and tourism Kit. The obverse of the medal exactly copies the original, made by order of Emperor Alexander I for the expedition teams of Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev. On the reverse is a dedication to the circumnavigation of the sailing ships Kruzenshtern, Sedov and Pallada.

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WAP expresses all the admiration and complacency for the important acknowledgments to his friend Valery Sushkov who,  with his many DX-peditions has given to the Radioamateurs from all over the World , the thrill of having logged rare spots,  both in Antarctica and in the Arctic!

TNX Oleg Latyshev UA6HPR/UA6GG @ DX Trophy Awards Group

Argentina: Covid-19 hits Antarctic Esperanza Research Base

On: By: Gianni Varetto

For the first time since the start of the pandemic,  Coronavirus has reached an Argentine research base in Antarctica, causing the evacuation of nine unvaccinated staff who tested positive for Covid-19, an official said Thursday.

Twenty-four of the 43 scientists and military personnel resident at Argentina’s Esperanza Base (WAP ARG-Ø4) have been infected, Patricia Ortuzar of the government’s National Directorate of the Antarctic told AFP.

Nine of the 24, who have no symptoms, were evacuated by helicopter as a precaution.

They had been in Antarctica since before the start of Argentina’s vaccination campaign in 2021, and were due to travel to the capital to be jabbed.

They had decided to wait to get their shots in Argentina, fearing having to deal with possible side-effects in the extreme environment that is Antarctica.

Thanks and credit:  https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220120-nine-evacuated-as-covid-19-hits-antarctic-research-base?fbclid=IwAR1FpPSZE5yzpO61SQhlb0W1ajxjIUjtJINtG3ZuiT5oO2XlwzhE9lU9WpA

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Esperanza Research Base
At  63°24′ South and  56°59′ West on a rocky surface at 25 meters high and 30 meters from the coastline,  Esperanza Base (WAP ARG-Ø4) is located in Hope Bay, Trinity Peninsula, the northernmost part of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The structure was inaugurated in 1952 as a permanent base, and it now consists of 43 buildings for a total covered area of 374.400 sqm. It accommodates up to 90 people during the summer which fall to 55 in the winter season. In addition, around 1,100 tourists visit the structure each year during the austral summer.

Dome C  Summer Camp,  WAP MNB-14 (New entry)

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Dome C Summer Camp  is now entering  on WAP-WADA  Antarctic Directory as  WAP MNB- 14

Following the operation by  David Brunet F4FKT who did sign FT4YM/p (November & Dicember 2021 and January 2022), at Dome C-Summer Camp  75° 05’ 59” South, 123° 19’ 56” East, a new  WAP reference  has been issued.

The picture aside , taken recently  by the helicopter, shows both sites (Dome C Summer Camp to the left and Concordia Station to the right). The two sites have really 2 official names and are separated each other  by a land strip.

Dome C summer Camp (75°05’59” South, 123°19’ 56” East), is a large camp, detached  by  about 700/800 mts from Concordia Station. This was the original site  of the first Epica project  then,  it was the support  base for the workers who built Concordia Station.

Dome C Smmer camp was never dismantled and actually is used as  a depot  with housing and warehouse. All the scientific equipments are inside the towers of Concordia and inside the shelters scattered around the Base.

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Note that, last  Hams allowed to operate Ham Radio from inside Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3) were Paride Legovini  IAØ/IZ3SUS (year 2014)  and Marco de Pas (IK5SQX-DK5SQX) signing IAØ/DK5SQX (year 2019).
Picture on the right, show Paride Legovini IAØ/IZ3SUS at the Radio Room at Concordia Station.

19th Antarctic Activity Week

On: By: Gianni Varetto

The 19th edition of the Antarctic Activity Week will start next February 21st and will last till February 28th 2022. Note that this is the date suggested, but everyone can get involved before or after this window.

For 19 years we, Antarctic enthusiasts, chasers, DXers and lovers of the Icy Continent  have been joining this annual event.

While we thanks the Hams that have already signed in, we remind every Hams to join. Apply your special call and are pleases to enlist in this Antarctic adventure.

Last entry for this year AAW, is François Bergez F8DVD who said: «I am happy to join the 19th Antarctic Activity Week. My call will be TM19AAW, WAP-344  and activation from February 7 to 21.

Propagation is going better and better with new cycle 25 , so I’m sure it will be a new great event.

CU on air to all Antarctic Enthusiasts !  QSL via my home call F8DVD».

Check : http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2022/ to see the stations that have already confirm their participation … and come onboard with your special call to celebrate Antarctica!

Antarctic attractions: Six landmarks in Christchurch, NZ

On: By: Gianni Varetto

An interesting view of the six landmarks  have been published on Newstalk ZB, by Thomas Bywater, NZ Herald.
Captain Scott’s Hut, Robert Falcon Scott Memorial, The last sled dog statue,are just some of the so many interesting features that characterize this important center which represents the bridge to the Icy Continent.

Just pay a visit to Antarctic attractions: Six landmarks in Christchurch (newstalkzb.co.nz) to get introduced and open your door to a place that represents one of the only five cities in the world with direct travel links to Antarctica.  Christchurch as home to the Antarctic Explorer’s hub.

Thanks and credit to New Zealand Herald.

Base Petrel (WAP ARG-17) will become a permanent Base in Antarctica

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Good news is coming from Argentina: Base Naval Petrel WAP ARG-17 will return to be a permanent Base in Antarctica! How can the Old Timers forget when LU1ZR & LU5ZR were almost every evening on HF bands making contacts with the Antarctic Chasers?

Well, one of the objective of the 118th Summer Antarctic Campaign is the refurbishment of Base Petrel, so that it can run again throughout the year.

Being on a plain at sea level, a rarity in Antarctica, Petrel has a microclimate that allows the base to be operable at any time of the year.

In addition, due to its location on Dundee Island, it can be used as an Antarctic logistics bridge integrated into the Ushuaia Pole project, in which,  the construction of a dock, facilities and service housing for personnel is planned, in order to be able to supply the Argentinean Bases quickly and efficiently.

Petrel did operate as an Antarctic permanent Base from 1952 to 1974, when after a fire it began to be operated just as a temporary Base.

The national government has just granted additional resources to the Ministry of Defense that will be owed to the reopening of Petrel Base and to continue with the re-equipment of the Armed Forces as planned.

Since 2013, a plan was drawn up to reactivate it as a permanent logistics hub on the Antarctic continent.

The Ministry of Defense informs that, through the budget modification made by the Executive Power through a Decree published in the Official Gazette,  more resources will be allocated to tasks related to the reopening of the Petrel Base in Antarctica.

Thanks and Credit to: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/el-gobierno-nacional-otorgara-recursos-adicionales-al-ministerio-de-defensa-que-seran

Knowing the Antarctic Domes

On: By: Gianni Varetto

What are the “Domes” ?

They are very flat snow summits across the Antarctic High plateau. From what I know, they’ve been named more or less according to their altitude while being discovered by the first pilots to fly airplanes across the continent in the 50s.

There are several  “Domes” in Antarctica as shown on the Map:

Dome A, Dome B (aka Ridge B), 200 km upstream of the Vostok ice core),  Dome C, Talos Dome, Titan Dome, an unnamed ice Dome located near to South Pole and Dome Fuji

 

Dome A (aka Dome Argus)

Dome Argus at 80°22′ South,  77°22′ East,  has a surface elevation of 4,093 m. It is the highest place in East Antarctica and also one of the least-known places on the globe. An automatic weather station provides data from this remote site.

Dome Argus lies near one end of a ridge about 60 km long and 10 km wide. The ice there is more than 3,000 m thick, overlaying the subglacial Gamburtsev Mountains.
At Dome A, an  Automatic weather station (AWS) was set up as part of anAustralian-Chinese collaboration in January 2005. No ground-based scientific investigation had been made at this site before the arrival of the Chinese over-snow traverse team.

Source: Dome Argus – Australian Antarctic Program (antarctica.gov.au)

Dome B (aka Ridge B)

3807 m above sea level at , 79.02°South, 93.69°East, Dome B was discovered at a distance of 170 km from the Russian Vostok Station.

Source: First glaciological investigations at Ridge B, central East Antarctica | Antarctic Science | Cambridge Core

Dome C

Dome C, also known as Dome Circe, Dome Charlie or Dome Concordia, is situated on top of the Antarctic Polar Plateau, the world’s largest frozen desert ever, at an elevation of 3,233 metres (10,607 ft) above sea level, is one of several summits or “Domes” of the Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Dome C  is the site of the Concordia Research Station (75°06’06” South, 123°23’ 43” East)  jointly operated by France and Italy.

In the 1970s, Dome C was the site of ice core drilling by field teams of several nations. It was called Dome Charlie. In 1992, France decided to build a new station on the Antarctic Plateau. The program was later joined by Italy. In 1996, a French-Italian team established a Summer camp at Dome C. The two main objectives of the camp were the provision of logistical support for the European Project for IceCoring in Antarctica (EPICA) and the construction of a permanent research station. The new all-year facility,Concordia Station, became operational in 2005.
The so called Dome C summer Camp (75°05’59” South, 123°19’ 56” East), about 700 mts from Concordia Station  was never dismantled and actually is used as it was in 1996. This Dome C summer camp, pic aside, before the construction of the two towers of Concordia, was the support base of the first Epica project, then it was the support site for the workers who built Concordia Station. Actually, Dome C summer Camp is just a depot with housing and warehouse. All the scientific equipments are inside the towers of Concordia and inside the shelters scattered around the Base. “Dome C Summer Camp” will be add as WAP MNB-NEW to WAP-WADA Directory.

Most of the cargo coming by traverse from Dumont d’Urville Station, covering 1,200 km in 7 to 12 days depending on weather conditions,  moved to Dome C and  unloaded at the summer camp. Station personnel and light cargo instead arrive by air, using Twin Otter aircraft from DDU or Mario Zucchelli Station at 1200 km.

The Project Epica Beyond  at Little Dome C is about 32 km from Concordia and the site is called Little Dome C-Epica Beyond,  (WAP MNB-NEW).

Dome C North Radar

The radar of the SuperDARN network is  located at 1.4 km from the Franco-Italian base Concordia, at Dome C, i.e. very close to the Antarctic geomagnetic pole, at about 3200 m above sea level. This makes it the highest geomagnetic latitude radar and the highest altitude radar. Its field of view conjugates with those of the McMurdo radar and the just installed South Pole radar.’

Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) radar installed at the Concordia Station in Antarctica and denominated Dome C North (DCN) saw the first light. SuperDARN is an international network of HF radars that observe the effects produced in the ionosphere by the chain of phenomena taking place in the Earth’s space environment. DCN and its companion radar Dome C East (DCE) are positioned nearby the southern geomagnetic pole with their Field of View extending towards the auroral latitudes. Here we present the analysis of the first year of observations as a function of the interplanetary conditions.

Source: Dome C North radar, a new radar of the SuperDARN network: the first year of observations. – NASA/ADS (harvard.edu)

and: SuperDARN radar now operating at Dome C in Antarctica!

Talos Dome

Talos Dome is an ice dome on the edge of the East Antarctic plateau; because accumulation is higher here than in other domes of East Antarctica, the ice preserves a good geochemical and palaeoclimatic record. A new map of the Talos Dome area locates the dome summit elevation (2318.5m)  using the global positioning system (GPS) (72˚47’ 14’’South, 159˚04’ 2’’ East).
Source : Geophysical survey at Talos Dome, East Antarctica: the search for a new deep-drilling site | Annals of Glaciology | Cambridge Core

and Dr. Jérôme CHAPPELLAZ – Some of my pictures taken during scientific field expeditions (jerome-chappellaz.com)

Titan Dome

Based on sparse data, Titan Dome has been identified as having a higher probability of containing ice that would capture the middle Pleistocene transition (1.25 to 0.7 Ma). New aerogeophysical observations (radar and laser altimetry) collected over Titan Dome, located about 200 km from the South Pole within the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, were used to characterize the region (e.g., geometry, internal structure, bed reflectivity, and flow history) and assess its suitability as a paleoclimate ice core site.

Source: TC – Aerogeophysical characterization of Titan Dome, East Antarctica, and potential as an ice core target (copernicus.org)

Dome Fuji (aka Dome F)

Dome Fuji also called Dome F or Valkyrie Dome is an ice dome rising to about 3,810 m (12,500 ft) above sea level in the eastern part of Queen Maud Land (77°30’South, 37°30’ East).

Dome F it’s the second-highest summit or ice dome of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet . Dome F is the site of Dome Fuji Station, a research station operated by Japan

Located in the eastern part of Queen Maud Land, Dome Fuji is a zone of ice that characterizes it as a special place, with more than 720,000 years of history recorded in its ice. Japan was encouraged to install a scientific base, Dome Fuji Base, despite the complexity of its supply and maintenance.

DOME FUJI: 720,000 YEARS OF HISTORY IN ICE – Inuit WindSled (greenland.net)

WAP  2022, new Release 1.39 of WAP Awards and more

On: By: Gianni Varetto

From the Homepage of WAP website, go to: http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards_download-rules/

You can find the 2022 edition (release 1.39)  of WAP-WACA & WAP-WADA Directories as well as Rules in French, English and Italian language to download for free and joining the hundreds of Hams thta have already got the presitigious WAP Awards!   In addition , you’ll get the IK6CAC  Dbase (Version 28, release 038), the dedicated software to manage your WAP Awards.

At  http://www.waponline.it/wap-antarctic-sub-antarctic-light-house-directory/ you can check or download the WAP Antarctic & Sub Antarctic Light House Directory

At WAP AWARD’s page http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards/ the WAP-WACA and WAP-WADA  issued , the ranking and more, all updated from January 1st 2022

TNX IK1GPG & IK1QFM

Polish Antarctic research station emerges from 43 years hibernation

On: By: Gianni Varetto

A group of scientists have arrived at the only Polish research station on mainland Antarctica, which has been dormant since 1979 but will now be reactivated.

The team, headed by Marek Lewandowski and which includes Monika Kusiak, the first Polish woman to work at the station, arrived at the Dobrowolski Polar Station (pic aside) on Saturday morning Polish time, almost two months after setting off on their expedition.

They will now spend around six weeks reactivating the station in the Bunger Hills, also known as Bunger Oasis, and setting up equipment which will conduct seismic and magnetic measurements.

more info at:  https://notesfrompoland.com/2022/01/10/polish-antarctic-research-station-emerges-from-43-year-hibernation/

A.B. Dobrowolski Polar Station is an inactive Polish polar research station in Antarctica. It is located at the edge of the Algae Lake , Bunger Hills region, in the Wilkes Land and was originally constructed by the Soviet Union in 1956 and named Oazis (WAP RUS-NEW). The station was handed over by the Soviert Academy of Science to the Polish Academy of Science in January 1959. It was manned briefly by the Polish expedition, which carried out a number of studies, primarily in the fields of gravimetry and geomorphology. The station has not been used regularly since, due to the lack of funds and the high costs of air transport. The station has been visited periodically by Polish and other research teams.

A.B. Dobrowolski Polar Station (WAP POL-NEW) is one of the two Polish stations in Antarctica, the other (pic aside) being the Henry Arctowsky Polish Antarctic Station (WAP POL-Ø1) operating continuously since 1977, located on the Island of King George in the South Shetland archipelago, and the station that has not been used for about 40 years,  the A.B. Dobrowolski Polar Station (named after Polish geophysicist, meteorologist and explorer Antoni Boleslaw Dobrowolskin).

VP8/SQ1SGB Halley VI-a Base (WAP GBR-40)

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Nice pileup last night on 7189 where Sebastian Gleich SQ1SGB was testing the new antenna just installed at Halley VI-a Base (WAP GBR-40).

VP8/SQ1SGB was entering with quite a good stable signal,   from S-5 toS-7. Another good one for WAP Awards.

Seba, did send a couple of pics of his multi band antenna well set among two pilons in the ice!
Check 40 mts from 22, 00 GMT and ahead.
Yesterday at 23,00 utc band was open to EU, Russia, North, Central and South America with quite a bit of pileup.

QSL for VP8/SQ1SGB has bo requested via EB7DX

TNX Seba VP8/SQ1SGB

Little Dome C (aka Epica Beyond Camp) WAP MNB-NEW?

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Last minute info:
We have just received some information fom Danilo IAØ/IZ1KHY, who is actually in company with David FT4YM/P at “Dome C” Summer Camp.

We must reconsider the provisional WAP reference of Little Dome C,  just issuded, as “Dome C” Summer camp and “Little Dome C” , are two different sites: Danilo promised to send us  abit of description and pictures so that we can update WAP-WADA directory according to the most clear situation know.

According to GPS coordinates of Dome C, Antarctica. Latitude: -75.1000 Longitude: 123.3500  Little Dome C Field Camp (aka Epica Camp) is located at 75° 05’ 59” South, 123° 20’ 59” East on the Antarctic Plateau at about 40 km from Concordia station (WAP MNB-Ø3).

The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) was set out to provide the longest ice-core climate record yet, by drilling a core from 3,270 m thick ice at a site known as “Little Dome C” in East Antarctica.
Pic on the left show David Brunet at Little Dome C

On this site, David Brunet F4FKT, has been active the first time on Jan. 6th 2022 as FT4YM/p after having been QRV in the past weeks from Dome C Summer Camp (WAP MNB-NEW) near Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3)

At the light of this great and not easy activation (David is using a dipole and 100W), a brand new WAP reference number will be given as soom as we have more details about the site ,


To be honest, we have to thank immensely  our friend Mehdi F5PFP for his great job to organize skeds with David and allow us to load a New Antarctic site on our log. Our congrats to David for his patience and determination in being  on the air  according to regular skeds!
              Pic aside show the dipole used by David at Dome C Summer camp

A bit of information about Little Dome C:

The first ice core drilling campaign of Beyond Epica-Oldest Ice is starting in Antarctica at the Little Dome C site. The aim of the project is to go back to 1.5 million years in time, by sampling and analysing the deep ice, which will reveal invaluable information on temperature and on the concentration of greenhouse gases in the past atmosphere. This project represents an unprecedented effort in paleoclimatology.

The project, is funded by the European Commission with 11 million euros and involves twelve European and non-European international research institutes and will benefit from synergies with the activities at the Italian-French Concordia Station managed by the French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor (IPEV) and the Italian National Antarctic Programme (PNRA) activities, including ENEA in charge for the logistics.

Whatch the Beyond EPICA official teaser

The actual campaign, at Little Dome C will last until January 2022, on an area of 10 km2, at  40 km from the Italian-French Concordia Station, on the East Antarctic plateau,  one of the most extreme places on the Earth.

QSL for FT4YM/p have to be requested direct to F5PFP

The first woman of colour to complete a solo unsupported trek to the South Pole

On: By: Gianni Varetto

Indian origin British Sikh army officer Harpreet Chandi, a 32 years old,  has become the first woman of color to complete a solo expedition to the South Pole.

Chandi began her expedition on November 7, 2021, flying to Chile and then embarking from Antarctica’s Hercules Inlet. Along the way, she hauled a sled weighing 90 kilograms (nearly 200 pounds) holding kit, fuel and food to last for roughly 45 days.

Chandi, who adopted the nickname “Polar Preet” for her blog and fundraising efforts, spent two and a half years preparing for the grueling expedition.

She underwent crevasse training in the French Alps, trekked across Iceland’s Langjökull Glacier and endured 27 days on the ice cap in Greenland — not to mention the months she spent dragging a heavy tire behind her back home in England, to simulate pulling a sled.

Preet Chandi completed the 700 mile trek in 40 days.

Read more at: British Sikh Army officer makes history with solo climb to South Pole : The Tribune India

RI6ØANT & ZS7ANF WFR (WAP MNB-12)

On: By: Gianni Varetto

After having been active from Wolf’s Fang Runway (WAP MNB-12) with the special callsign RI6ØANT (WAP-335)  issued to celebrate the 6Øth Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty signature, RI6ØANT operated by Oleg Sakharov (ZS1ANF-UA1PBA) closed his great activityon dec.31, 2021 at the end of the celebration connected with the Antarctic Treaty.

QSL of  RI6ØANT have to be requested via RZ3EC

Starting jan. 1st 2022  , Oleg Sakharov (ZS1ANF-UA1PBA) is now active as ZS7ANF from the same location WFR in Antarctica.

Oleg operates inside of a tent with 100 W into a GP/SG-237 vertical antenna stuck in the ice, just beside the tent .

So far Oleg did operate 17, 20, 30 & 40 mts CW, but he says it’s very cold in the tent, equipment is floating  and it’s difficult to operate!

QSL of ZS7ANF have to be requested via RK1PWA or ZS1ANF
TNX Oleg Sakharov, you’re simply the best!

Princess Elizabeth Antarctic Station: More than half of all crew  caught Coronavirus

On: By: Gianni Varetto

According to a report, 16 of 25 workers at the Belgian  Princess Elizabeth Station (WAP BEL-Ø2) in Antarctica  have tested positive for COVID.

The first positive case was identified on 14 December among members of the  Team who had arrived at the facility a week earlier after travelling from South Africa. Two other members of the travelling party then tested positive. All three were evacuated on 23 December, but more workers continued to come down with COVID.

All of the team members have received two vaccine doses and none of those who have the virus are experiencing severe symptoms. The station has two emergency doctors on site, equipment to treat people who develop severe symptoms and the ability to analyse PCR tests.

All residents of the station were offered the opportunity to leave on a scheduled flight on January 12. However, they all expressed their wish to stay and continue their work.

Source: Crew at remote Antarctic polar ice station catch Covid-19 | Daily Mail Online

More at: COVID-19: Antarctica research station battling coronavirus outbreak | World News | Sky News