The Hut, 68°28’18”South,  78°11’16”East, is temporarily moved to the sea ice near the Plough Island skiway for up to 2 months in summer, then returned back to Ace lake.

This refuge (pic below to the Right) consists of 1 Apple type Hut, and provides accommodation for 2 people. The hut is equipped with food, fuel and cooking facilities and has a list of instructions peculiar to the hut’s fittings and contents. A radio is available at this location. Ace Lake Refuge Hut (WAP AUS-NEW) is located near the north-western extremity of Long Fjord, 0.5 hours by quad from Davis Base (WAP AUS-Ø3). Under normal conditions, no point in the Vestfold Hills is further than 3 hours travel by vehicle from a refuge or the station. The refuge was established in summer 2004/05 to support research projects at Ace Lake.

Tech features: Apple huts,  such as the one at Ace lake, are constructed from eight basic curved wall sections and four floor panels, with an access door and clear windowpanes. The market approach of this product is to offer a ‘rigid tent’ rather than a sophisticated accommodation module. The hut are fitted with a circular ventilation/escape hatch at the apex of the dome.

The fibreglass fabrication is designed to allow erection in the field with minimal logistical requirements for deployment, limited cold-paths for improved thermal performance, including 6mm thick fire retardant polyurethane spray foam insulation.
Apple huts have been used by the AAD since the mid-1980s.

For the above pics of Ace Lake Refuge Hut, thanks and credit to AAD (Australian Antarctic Division)

The Browning Peninsula Refuge (66°28’10” South, 110°33’00” East) is 21 km due south of Casey Station (WAP AUS-Ø2).

The 60 km inland route for all vehicles is hard. Vehicles may become bogged or stuck; deadmen, planks and winches must be carried. Browning Peninsula may be accessible across the sea ice from Robinson’s Ridge during winter, and depends upon prior measurement of the ice thickness.

Browning is the furthest of the huts around Casey Station at about 60 km from station by GPS route. The area around Browning is spectacular with lots of hills, rocks and lakes. The Hut can sleep 6 people.

Browning Refuge is a custom-built sled-mounted hut made from AANBUS panel and accommodates 4 people, equipped with a radio, food, fuel, cooking facilities and comprehensive first aid  kit and has a list of instructions peculiar to its fittings and contents.. The Refuge is used in summer to support field personnel, and for recreation.

Who knows if someday a willing Ham could set in and operate HF from there?

Thanks and credit: AAD (Australian Antarctic Division) and https://eies.ats.aq/Ats.IE/ieGenRpt.aspx?idParty=2&period=1&idYear=2019

Australia’s Aurora Australis is going to be gifted to Argentina to work on their Antarctic program, and will be sailed  to South America by an Australian crew before the end of this year.

In November the ship will be brought from Australia by sailors from that country,  to Ushuaia, where Argentine personnel will embark. Then both teams will sail  to Buenos Aires, where the transfer ceremony will take place.

An article by Adrian Luciani reported on Argenports.com ,   Adrian says that  before the end of the year 2020, quite possibly next November, Argentina will add another icebreaker ship to accompany its  “Admiral Irízar” in the Antarctic campaigns. The Argentine  I/B Irizar,  was launched in 1977, although she was out of service for 10 years for maintenance works after a fire onboard  (2007/2017), she’s actually back in employ.

“Aurora Australis”, is a used unit that was deactivated by Australia and that will be transferred free of charge to the Argentine Navy.

The Australian “Aurora Australis” is a 30 years old vessel that until recently, was in e service of the Australian Antarctic Program and is now being replaced by the “I/B Nuyina”.

Read more at: http://argenports.com/…/argentina-suma-al-rompehielos…

A new earthquake of significant magnitude occurred on Monday afternoon (oct. 5, 2020) in Argentina’s Antarctica, reported the National Institute for Seismic Prevention (INPRES) based in San Juan.

It was reported at 16:01 local time (19:01 GMT) with its epicenter near Base Carlini  5.2 degrees on the Richter scale at a depth of 7 and 11 kilometers. At the moment, there are no reports of damages or people affected.

Scientific Base Carlini (WAP ARG-2Ø) lies 1019 kilometers southeast of Ushuaia TdF (WAP ARG-23)

Source:  https://www.infofueguina.com/tu-ciudad/2020/10/5/sismo-en-la-antartida-de-52-grados-de-magnitud-51156.html?fbclid=IwAR0Ts22NhfJodR9pUhzyqw7c6i0Jdn8bSY4AtA27oVN5Y-xrczFOiYF3HTo

Thanks to Dr. Volker Strecke DL8JDX (ex Y88POL) a well known German Antarctic veteran (pic aside), WAP is now able to retrace the history of two unknown Huts, later joined and became a Refuge.

These two forgotten Huts  and a Refuge will be inserted into WAP-WADA Directory which, day by day becomes more and more accurate.  Even if these Huts and Refuge have been dismantled and removed, it will be great to document their existence.

Lake Podprudnoye Hut, (WAP DDR-NEW) Built in 1987, this Hut  shown on the right, was a living container which was placed at that site as,  at that time it was considered to build a new Georg Forster  Station nearby. Later this plan was cancelled.
The Hut was located at  70°46′ South,  11°37′ East,  close to  Podprudnoye Lake.
(the two Pics to the Right,  show the hut on its positions on Podprudnoye.  The man  near the hut is Volker. Pictures were taken from different angles)

Lake Prilednikovoye Hut, (WAP DDR-NEW)  located at  70°46′ South,  11°36′ East , (see picture below to the Left)  was built in 1985 and remained in operation till 1988. It was located close to Prilednikovoye Lake.

A decision decision to join Lake Podprudnoye Hut with the other hut moved from Lake Prilednikovoye was taken in the Antarctic summer season 1988-1989 .

Old hut from the Lake Prilednikovoye was relocated and combined with the hut existing at the northern coast of the Lake Podprudnoye.  Both Huts together were called “Domik” (hut in Russian language) , they were set at  70°46′ South,  11°37′ East..

Both Lake Prilednikovoye Hut   and Lake Podprudnoye Hut were about 9 km west from the site of Georg Forster Station (WAP DDR-Ø1)

Picture aside shows both huts together.

Lake Podprudnoye Hut (at his second  and last setup) was though formed by both  the huts present in that area:  the one  moved from Lake Prilednikovoye  and  the Hut already  in place at Lake Podprudnoye.

This Refuge did remain on place  from 1988 through 1993 when it was dismantled

A detailed map below,  show the locations of both Lake Podprudnoye and Lake Prilednikovoye

Volker DL8JDX wrote: «These huts  were used as small support base for the scientific activities in the western part of the Schirmacher Oasis. Because this area of the Oasis could be explored only by foot,  it was good to have a shelter to work and sleep apart of the main Station».
Volker said that there were no Hamradio activities from these two huts, just VHF and HF radio traffic to the Georg Forster main station and neighboured bases even if  «I was myself working and sleeping in the “Domik” at lake Podprudnoye between 1988 and 1992 several times».

TNX Volker Strecke, DL8JDX (info@strecke.de)

Radio Club Ushuaia is  very grateful to the Hams  that have operated from September 25 to 30 in a special radio event to celebrate  60 years anniversary of the creation of   “Tierra del Fuego National Park”  together with a  tribute to the people who work every day to conserve and beautify this beloved national park Tierra del Fuego.

Tierra del Fuego National Park (Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego) is a national park on the Argentine part of the island of Tierra del Fuego, within Tierra del Fuego province (WAP ARG-23) in the ecoregion of Patagonic Forest and Altos Andes, a part of the sub antarctic forest. Established on 15 October 1960 and expanded in 1966, it was the first shoreline national park to be established in Argentina.

A special Certificate “60 Years of the foundation of  the Tierra Del Fuego National Park”  is available to Hams that made  the required contacts . To get more info send a mail to lu8xw@lu8xw.com.ar  or visit the page of Radio Club Ushuaia at:

http://www.lu8xw.com.ar/site/323-60-anos-del-parque-nacional-tierra-del-fuego

Oasis Research Station 66°12’28” South, 100°45’00”East,  was built by the Soviet Antarctic Expedition  in 1956 and named Oazis (Оазис). The station has been visited periodically by Polish and other research teams. Official classification of the station is “inactive”. The station is only occasionally visited by tourists.
Picture aside shows the Research Station Oasis photographed in 1958 during the 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition of 1957-59.

The station was located in the east of Antarctica on the edge of a dry valley. Photographed in 1958.

As far as we know, nobody has been active for this old epic Russian Station. It will be interesting to know if someone have evidence of Ham radio operation from there, in this case a WAP reference will be given for sure.

The Station has been  handed over to Poland in 1959, who renamed the facility as  A.B. Dobrowolski Polar Station.

Also known as Reclus hut or Portal Point this Refuge was located at 64°30’ South, 61°46’ West , at Portal Point, Reclus Peninsula, Danco Coast, with  survey and geology purposes.

It was occupied from 13 Dec 1956 to 25 Apr 1958.

Party from Danco Island (Station “O” WAP GBR-11) wintered there 1957 to continue local survey work. 4 man party, led by Wally Herbert, completed the first traverse from Hope Bay to Cape Reclus from 9 Oct through 30 Dec 1957.

Pic on the right shows Cape Reclus refuge, 1957-58. (Photographer: Richard Foster; Archives ref: AD6/19/2/O3/2)

Thanks and credit to:  https://www.bas.ac.uk/about/about-bas/history/british-research-stations-and-refuges/cape-reclus-refuge/

Cape Reclus Refuge has been dismantled in Mar 1996 and transported to the Falkland Islands Museum, Stanley, Falkland Islands. (Erected as an exhibit Dec 1998, refurbished Nov 2007, re-built inside the new Museum 2014.)
Only concrete foundations remain at Portal Point. The ruins will anyway considered valid for WAP-WADA & WAP-WACA Award program.

On 14-15 march 2011, during his Antarctica Expedition, VP8DLM operated by Mehdi, F5PFP did activate this rare location to which a WAP reference number has been given as WAP GBR-36.

For 17 years now, without interruption, Hams from Italy and few others coming from neighboring European Countries have joined a Multi Program Meeting  in Northen Italy at the foot of the Alps.

This strange 2020 with lots of problems connected to the Covid 19 did not stopped the enthusiasm of the organizers so that the 19^th DCI Meeting (Italian Castles) among the  11^th  IFFA (Flora and Fauna) and 17^th Worldwide Antarctic Program (WAP) was held  last 18-21 September in the nice frame of  “Hotel Restaurant Commercio” Roccaforte Mondovì, at the foot of the Alps in another historical site in the province of Cuneo.

Perfect organization well managed by the group of ARI-Mondovì (Italian Amateur Radio Association) with several speakers who debated some of the most interesting topics of  DXing and the spasmodic search for the “New One”.
Antarctica and WAP have been carried on by Max IK1GPG and Betty IKQFM who shown the results obtained in terms of rankings and diplomas awarded to Ham radio fans of Antarctica from all over the world.
Since 40 years WAP continue to achieve success, thanks to a large group of  Hams and Chasers, Students and Antarctic followers. This make us very happy and  motivates us to continue despite our commitments and our work. WAP Awards, Antarctic bulletins, Directories, regular information posted on WAP website, are just some of the goals to which we are proud also because everything has been put online for free. Our passion to the Icy Continent  makes us forget the fatigue and we are always comforted by the satisfaction of knowing that there are many of us in the world with the same passion. Thanks to the hundreds radio amateurs  and friends who have collaborated and continue to collaborate with us, providing news and information.

(Pictures above show the authority in front of the 2010’s banner of the Meeting and the intervention by the Mayor of the city.).

Thanks to IK1QFM Betty, IK1GPG Max, KK3Q Floyd  and last but not least I1HYW Gianni

Thanks everyone WW for keeping the Antarctic  passion always alive.
Enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

Reconstruction of the Vostok II Station,  the only inland Antarctic station used by Russia,  is scheduled to be completed by 2024.

“At present, work is being completed on the design of residential modules with working rooms for laboratories, engineering modules and a garage, which will be manufactured and delivered to St. Petersburg at the expense of private funds. In the future, at the expense of federal funds, the modules will be delivered to the Progress station, and from there,  across the territory of Antarctica to the destination for assembly. The last section of the route will be about 1500 kilometers and will be covered by a sledge-caterpillar train. This is the only way to reach the station by land – nine months a year it is cut off from the rest of the world ” commented Sergei Khrushchev, Director of the Department of State Policy and Regulation in Hydrometeorology, Arctic, Antarctic and World Ocean Studies of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources .

Recall that the first experimental flight to the station took place in 2019. As a result, the specialists completed the revision of the sled, which will deliver the component parts of modules weighing up to 60 tons.

The delivery of fuel to Progress and the compaction of the site for the placement of facilities at the Vostok station is in full swing. After its reconstruction on an area of ​​2500 square meters.  will accommodate residential modules, laboratories, a medical unit, a power plant, garages for equipment. In the Antarctic summer, 35 people will work at the station, 15 will remain for the winter.

The 65th seasonal expedition is currently underway. It involves 110 winterers who spend about a year in Antarctica and 120 seasonal employees. The scientific expedition vessels “Akademik Treshnikov” and “Akademik Fedorov”, as well as the research vessel “Akademik Alexander Karpinsky” are involved in the work.

Source: http://www.mnr.gov.ru/press/news/rekonstruktsiyu_rossiyskoy_stantsii_vostok_v_antarktide_planiruetsya_zavershit_do_2024_goda/

Photo are coming from the official website of the Russian Antarctic Expedition

In addition, it is reported that, last Jan. the snow surface at the site was being compacted to accommodate the future facilities & fuel loads were being delivered in advance at the coastal Base Progress II (WAP RUS-11). With a post on FB, Alexey Loginov informs   that new building of Vostok II station is ready for transportation to Antarctica!

The project of the new station was performed by a  German company, while bilders are from Novatec company (specialized on LNG at Arctica), and all constructions will reach Antarctica this season. All material  load on Polar ships will land at Progress II Base (WAP RUS-11), then  will be transported on site by huge sledge with over 1000 km traverse

A training of аssembly will be performed in St. Petersburg, then the building will be disassembled, loaded on ship, heading the Antarctic coast, pre-assembled blocks will move on a huge sled.

The Polar Ship Sevmorput, the world’s only nuclear-powered cargo ship, is currently preparing for a voyage to Antarctica to supply the new Russia’s Vostok II Research station.
When ready, the Antarctic hunters will be looking forward a Radio contact on HF as for sure, the New Vostok Station (Vostok II) will be a brand NEW WAP WADA  reference.

Refuge Cristo Redentor is an Antarctic refuge located at 63°33′ South, 57°22′ West at the western access to Duse Bay in the Trinity Peninsula, 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Esperanza Base (WAP  ARG-Ø4). It is administered by the Argentine Army and was inaugurated on May 25, 1955.
The Refuge, is one of the 18 shelters that are under the responsibility of Esperanza, which is responsible for the maintenance and the care. It has capacity for 12 people, food for two months, fuel, gas and first aid kit. It has been used in some Argentine scientific campaigns and ordinary patrolling. The main scientific observations are the geology and topography of the area, the sea ice and survey on the Crabeater seal and the Weddel seal.

Between September 1956 and January 1957, the assistant Sergeant Domingo Avila and Sergeant Telmo Buonomo, officiating as commissioners in the refuge area, were isolated by an early melting of the sea in the Duse Bay. They survived four months until were rescued by ARA General San Martìn icebreaker’s helicopter.

Colbeck Hut 67°24’51” South, 61°00’18” East, is located 100 km west of Mawson Base (WAP AUS-Ø4) and 5 km north-east of Taylor Glacier on an island in the Colbeck Archipelago. Established in 1988, it is used as shelter for visitors to the Taylor Glacier area, including to monitor the Taylor Glacier emperor penguin colony in ASPA 101. It can only be accessed over fast ice or via rotary wing aircraft. The refuge  can accommodate four persons.  It contains medical facilities such as comprehensive first aid  kit, food and fuel for heating, lighting, and cooking (either kerosene or LPG)

Thanks and credit: https://eies.ats.aq/Ats.IE/ieGenRpt.aspx?idParty=2&period=1&idYear=2019

Colbeck Hut Refuge (WAP AUS-NEW) is one of the several Antarctic sites never been operated by Hams. This makes these locations very interesting:
1) because they are rare and not so popular
2) because the Ham world always hope someone will operate from there one day or another!
3) By now, we are satisfied  to know that these places exist and are listed on WAP-WADA Directory.

DPØPOL/mm is going to be active shortly. So far, the call sign has only been used on FT8 and PACTOR, so there is some real radio operation now!

Felix, DL5XL has just informed WAP that in spite of the fact that there  has not been much to report in the past months, now there is some ham radio related news: Andreas, DL3LRM, has arrived on board of  R/V Polarstern for the last leg of the MOSAiC expedition.
Here a short note of the mission:
Embark on the largest polar expedition in history: in September 2019, the German research icebreaker Polarstern has set sail from Tromsø, Norway, to spend a year drifting through the Arctic Ocean – trapped in ice.

The goal of the MOSAiC expedition is to take the closest look ever at the Arctic as the epicenter of global warming and to gain fundamental insights that are key to better understand global climate change. Hundreds of researchers from 20 countries are involved in this exceptional endeavour. Following in the footsteps of Fridtjof Nansen’s ground-breaking expedition with his wooden sailing ship Fram in 1893-1896, the MOSAiC expedition will bring a modern research icebreaker close to the north pole for a full year including for the first time in polar winter. The data gathered will be used by scientists around the globe to take climate research to a completely new level. Led by atmospheric scientist Markus Rex, and co-led by Klaus Dethloff and Matthew Shupe, MOSAiC is spearheaded by Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI).

Thanks and credit: https://mosaic-expedition.org/

Going back to Felix  report, the Ham Radio Station is up and running,  so Andreas, DL3LRM,   will be active in CW signing DP0POL/MM  on 40m, 30m, and 20m from various locations near the North Pole. QSL via DL5EBE
Felix DL5XL assures the Ham Community  that they might be able to set up a sked once Andreas  makes the first contacts.  -I am in regular contact with him through our office- Felix said.

And about the upcoming Antarctic season, we have no idea yet – Felix said-  The virus really makes things very difficult!

TNX Felix Riess DL5XL

R/V Polarstern is valid for WAP WADA and for the French Polar DX Challenge. Good luck to hunt  DPØPOL/MM in the next weeks

Field camp at Spaulding Pond, is located at  77° 39’ South, 163° 7’ East is a pond 0.3 nautical miles (0.6 km) northeast of the terminal ice cliff of Howard Glacier in Taylor Valley, Victoria Land, Antarctica.

The name was suggested by Diane McKnight, leader of United States Geological Survey (USGS) field teams, which studied the hydrology and geochemistry of streams and ponds in the Lake Fryxell basin, Taylor Valley, 1987–94. Named after USGS hydrologist Sarah Ann Spaulding, a member of the team during two seasons, 1988–89 and 1991–92, who studied the pond.

Spaulding Pond Field Camp,  77° 39’ South, 163° 7’ East,   will be add to the WAP-WADA Directory under MNB-NEW.

A WAP number will be given if and when an HF operation will put this “new entry”  on the air.

Thanks and credit to: Anthony Powell (A Year on Ice https://www.facebook.com/AntarcticaAYearOnIce/ ) See the spot pubblished at “Antarctica- A Year On Ice” by  Anthony Powell’s page on June 9th.

Dirck Gerritsz Laboratory (WAP NLD-NEW) is a Dutch research facility in Antarctica, located at 67°34’07.1’’South 68°07’27.8’’West near the British  Rothera Research station (WAP GBR-12).

Officially opened January 2013, is composed by four flexible high tech mobile labs built in standard ISO 20 feet high cube containers. All four housed in a specially designed docking station.

The lab is named after the sixteenth-century Dutch merchant, Dirck Gerritsz, who is said to to be probably one of the discoverer of Antarctica.

The Netherlands is a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty and has observer status on the Arctic Council. As a participant, the country undertakes to invest in research at the poles. This is the reason behind the Netherlands’ Polar Research Program.

NWO and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) developed a design for a laboratory in conjunction with BAS. An arrangement with four separate laboratories made from sea containers placed in a ‘docking station’ was chosen. It supplies the labs with electricity, Internet and water and protects them from the severe weather conditions. BAS built the docking station and NIOZ built the mobile laboratories, each with funding from the Netherlands Polar Program (NPP). Main science disciplines studied at Dirck Gerritsz Laboratory are:

Climate change, Climatology, Ecology, Environmental sciences, Glaciology, Isotopic chemistry, Marine biology, Microbiology, Oceanography and Terrestrial biology.

The history tells about five ships set off for South America in 1598 to look for a trading route to Asia. One of these ships, called the ‘Blijde Boodschap‘ (or Annunciation) was blown south. There, Captain Dirck Gerritsz saw “high mountainous country”  that reminded him of Norway. This is cautiously assumed to be the Southern Shetland Islands, which would make him the first person to describe Antarctica. The entire Dutch laboratory is named after this Dutch merchant and explorer. The four mobile laboratories are named after four of the five ships: Blijde Boodschap (Annunciation), Liefde (Love),  Geloof (Faith) and Hoop (Hope). The name of the fifth ship was  Trouw (Loyalty).

More at: https://www.comnap.aq/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf

Trinity,  24 km long, 10 km wide is one of the 59 islands of Palmer Archipelago. It was charted by the French Antarctic Expedition 1908-1910, under Jean Baptiste Charcot, and named by the sixth Chilean Antarctic Expedition (1952) for Lieutenant Ladislao D’Hainaut.

Refuge Caillet-Bois (WAP ARG-NEW) is an Argentine refuge in Antarctica located on D’Hainaut Island (63º54´00″ South , 60º47´00″ West). The refuge was inaugurated by the Argentine Navy on December 10^th  1954. Originally it took the name of Refuge Port Mikkelsen referred to the name of the Danish arctic explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen. The refuge with its current name, which pays tribute to the Argentine naval Captain and historian Teodoro Caillet Bois, was given in December 1977 by the icebreaker ARA General San Martin (Q-4). Then it was closed and evacuated on January 17 of the following year by the icebreaker personnel.

The ARA Petty Officer Castillo visited the shelter in early 2000 during the Antarctic campaign of 1999-2000 and the ARA Almirante Irizar inspected the refuge in April of the same year. The refuge was renovated in March 2017 by the personnel of the transport ARA Bahia San Blas

D’Hainaut Island is a small island largely flat, rocky island (less than 1 sq km), lying in Mikkelsen Harbour, a 3km wide bay, lined with ice cliffs, indenting the south side of Trinity Island between Skottsberg and Borge Point. The island is often snow covered until late in the season and there are a number of shallow reefs in the waters surrounding the island.

http://www.travellingminions.com/tbt-mikkelsen-harbour/

A report from Mehdi F5PFP says:
Yes we anchored at Mikkelsen Harbour and I remember very well of Caillet Bois refuge on its islet. At Mikkelsen harbor apparently remain the ruins of an old whaling station/depot but I didn’t see them. Mehdi F5PFP did operate as VP8DLM (on 16 march 2011) from a neighboring but different bay of Trinity island, more or less 3km from Mikkelsen harbor according to the map he just read.
TNX Mehdi, F5PFP 

A reference number will be given as soon as someone will put Caillet-Bois Refuge  on the air … the game is open!

Camp Byers (Campamento Byers) is a Spanish seasonal base camp  located  at 62°39′49″South, 61°05′58″West on the south beaches of Byers Peninsula, in the western part of  Livingston Island  in the South Shetland Islands. The locality is also designated for use as an International Field Camp. When necessary for scientific research purposes, temporary camping is allowed elsewhere on the protected peninsula under certain conditions. The camp was installed to support the scientific research in the area during short periods of time. Due to the increasing interest in the area, the camp is still operative but can be easily dismantled when required. It is maintained by the personnel of Juan Carlos I station  (WAP ESP-Ø1) who keep the camp in a good condition year by year. The camp consists in two fiber glass “melon huts”  each of 6m x 2m in size, one set up for scientific research and the other for domestic activities. The camp is open to all the Parties.

The main access is by ship or helicopter. Parties should liase with Spain, Spanish Polar Committee, to co-ordinate access to the melon huts.

Byers Peninsula offers many features as an international reference site given it is one of the largest ice-free areas in the Antarctic Peninsula region, it has a variety of different landscape units, and it hosts diverse aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, the Byers Peninsula is a hotspot for Antarctic biodiversity, and because of its high level of environmental protection, it has been very little affected by human activities. Finally, the proximity to the Spanish polar installations on Livingston Island and the experience derived from previous expeditions to the site make it logistically feasible as a site for ongoing monitoring and research.

Source: http://35.176.171.43/stations/?no_cache=1&tx_infradatabase_stations%5Bcode%5D=CO2503&tx_infradatabase_stations%5Baction%5D=stationinfo&tx_infradatabase_stations%5Bcontroller%5D=Frontend&cHash=c9f553b4160da8ea842980e059aa230a

Camp Byers (aka International Field Camp-Byers Peninsula) has been  add on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP ESP-NEW.

(TNX Jose Reyes Garcia EA3NW for suggestion and documentation)

A reference number will be given as soon as someone will put it on the air … the game is open!

Norbert (Bert) E. Yankielun did operate on 1999 as KC4/WA1O from Temporary Byrd Surface Camp  using 100w, battery powered, Kenwood TS-50 inside of his tent.

Now, thanks to Bob K4MZU who did contact the operator, we are able to understand what,  the coordinates reported on Bert’s QSL were about.

Here below the story told by  Dr. Norbert E. Yankielun WA1O

The Temporary Byrd Surface Camp  was located  at 81° 11′ 45″ South,  126° 8′ 18″ West near the original Byrd Surface Station (80° 00′ 00″ South 120° 00′ 00” West) where we temporarily staged for the International Trans Antarctic Expedition (ITASE) in 1999.

We were only a couple of miles from the original Byrd Surface Camp (WAP USA-20 ).  A radio tower was clearly visible, even at that distance, still sticking above the surface there, marking the location of the old and abandoned Byrd Station.

The NSF restricted us from visiting the site out of  “safety” issues and to prevent attempts to explore the long-buried facility.

Here are two digital photos I have from that trip.
The remainder of my photos are in film format.  The camp basically consisted of the Korean War-era “Jamesway structure” (shown at the right) and a fuel bladder for refueling C-130’s.  There were also several “Scott Tents” for station crew and for  our traverse team while we temporarily stayed there.

The second photo (on the left) shows the interior of the Jamesway.  Jury-rigged shower was the blue tarp structure on the left. Kitchen was in the background.

Radio desk and dining area would be in the foreground space. ( Pic below, shows Bert while operating HF).

I was asked to return to Antarctica this last November on a project.

Unfortunately, funding collapsed for the entire effort. Later, last winter, I was informed that the mission might be revived this coming Nov. 2020 – Jan. 2021 season.  Given the issues with the virus, it is almost certain that the project will be canceled again for the coming season.   Beyond that, I don’t know…  Getting a bit old for the NSF to approve me for field work “on the ice” … will be 70 in mid-2021…  Probably missed my last chance…but still hoping…

Very best regards, Bert
Dr. Norbert E. Yankielun, P.E., Consulting Electrical Engineer

At the light of this evidence, we have given the Temporary Byrd Surface Camp  a WAP reference as  WAP USA-45.
We thanks Bob K4MZU and Bert WA1O for their contribution to update WAP WADA Directory.

Congrats to those who did work KC4/WA1O back in 1999!

Beside Asuka Base (WAP JPN-Ø1) and Miizhuo (WAP JPN-Ø2) Showa or Syowa Station is the 3^rd Japanese permanent research station in Antarctica. The fourth one is Dome Fuji (WAP JPN-Ø4).

Located on East Ongul Island, Queen Maud Land, Syowa Station was established in january 1957 and since then, serves as a research outpost for astronomy, meteorology, biology and Earth sciences.. It comprises over 60 separate buildings, large and small, including a 3 storey administration building, living quarters, power plant, sewage treatment facility, environmental science building, observatory, data processing facility, satellite building, ionospheric station, incinerator, earth science building, and radiosonde station. Fuel tanks, water storage, solar panels, eliport, water retention dam, and radio transmitter are also present on the site.

8J1RL is one of amateur radio club station of Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL), located at the Japanese research station “SYOWA” in Antarctica. Operators Taka (JA1AGS) and Hiro (JH7JCX) actually at Syowa,   are member of  the 61^st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition Team (JARE).

JARE61 did start last  Feb 2020 and will continue through Jan. 2021  with the official callsign 8J1RL.

Check https://www.nipr.ac.jp/english/outline/numeral/01.html  for more info on the four Japanese stations in Antarctica.

QSL via Bureau to 8J1RL, SASE to JARL or JG2MLI, (NO LoTW & PayPal)

Are you a student? A keen Antarctic enthusiast?  An heater  Ham Radio operator?

Well, the city of  Imperia  by the Ligurian Riviera (Italy)  is waiting you next  September 11, 12 and 13  2020  at the International Naval Museum of Western Liguria .

We thanks Flavio Barbiero for having published on his website, several further details about Cepparo’s expedition to Antarctica and the subsequent “Antarctico Due” expedition.

Flavio Barbiero (pic aside) lives in Italy. He is a retired Admiral in the Italian Navy who last served with NATO. In addition He is an archaeological researcher in Israel as well as the author of several books, including “The Bible without secrets” and “The secret Society of Moses”.

In his website, Flavio Barbiero describes the First Expedition to Antarctica by Renato Cepparo, with rare pics.

We also suggest to read “The Expedition Antartico Due”. Even if it is not yet translated, the narrative gives more details of the too little known Italian epic in Antarctica.

Check http://www.altriocchi.com/H_ITA/pi1/note_bio/prima_antart.html  (Italian version) or

http://www.altriocchi.com/H_ENG/pen1/note_bio/Prima_Antart.html (English version)

TNX Adm. Flavio Barbiero and Gabry IK1NEG

Antarctic Veteran, Dr. Volker Strecke, DL8JDX  has just received the 3D WOOD Award ANTARCTICA-200,  in honor of the 200^th  Anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica by Russian sailors and became the first winner of the award of the International Marine Club SEAFARER.

The 3D WOOD Award ANTARCTICA-200 is unique and personalized, made of beech and is done on the machine for 25 hours.

The 3D WOOD Award ANTARCTICA-200 can be received by one who was in Antarctica as part of a scientific Teams, sports or tourist expedition, as well as Hamradio hunters for Antarctic stations (from 10 QSOs/SWLs with Antarctica stn).

Applications in any form can be sent to the diploma service hamradio@seafarer.world

Applicants for the first 3D WOOD Awards:

№1 – DL8JDX

№2 – G4AYO

№3 – NW3U

TNX to HAMRADIO Department of International Marine Club SEAFARER

E-mail: hamradio@seafarer.world

https://www.qrz.com/db/rm0m

https://seafarer.hamlog.ru

Congrats to Volker DL8JDX for being the Nr.1 owner of this  new prestigious Antarctic Award!

Thanks to Max IK1GPG for updating the annual ranking (WAP_ranking-issued)  and the of the most popular WAP Antarctic Awards issued (WAP_awards-issued).

WAP-WACA & WAP-WADA are a real achievement of years of DX in Ham radio activity where, Antarctica remains one of the most challenging  goal.

We remind the chasers that any time is good for sending  up dates  and /or requests of  new  Awards. No specific months or date are requested, any time is fine. When you think you’re ready  do it,  you can just contact IK1GPG  Max, WAP Award manager at (wap_info@virgilio.it)  asking information and/or to send him your list.

Having one or both of this prestigious Antarctic Awards is really  a certification to be a lover of the Icy Continent … but don’t forget the Honor Roll and Top Honor Roll, they are really the high-status certificate.

We remind the readers that here at WAP website there is a dedicate section for the WW Antarctic Awards  …  something that couldn’t be missed on the shack’s wall of any skilled DXers!

Check  https://www.waponline.it/worldwide-antarctic-awards/  to get more.

A  sudden fire broke out at the Russian Antarctic station “Mirny”  WAP RUS-Ø7  on last june 21^st at 16:40 GMT time.  The fire erupted at its weather research unit (Meteomarine) and quickly spread to several other labs, helped by strong winds.

The station has lost the Aerology Lab (aerology it’s a  branch of meteorology that studies the free atmosphere, that is not influenced by the soil), the Laboratory of Physical Institute of the RAS, program Stratospheric sounding of cosmic rays, server, hydro meteorological laboratory and the radio room.

Mirny Station actually houses 23 staff members, no one injured. The state-funded Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute said that 11 people who worked at the damaged building were evacuated and resettled at other premises. It said that communications with the outpost have been fully restored

Read the full info at:

https://izwest.livejournal.com/5623654.html?utm_source=fbsharing&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1otV99F_WOly5PmUqb6MktLQS-uQLlRJPMHWpAQBn3xK42cQ7_MIiGG58

Alexander Solodov, RX3ABI is one of the members overwintering at Mirny Station (WAP RUS-Ø7). He is supposed to be there till February 2021 operating as RI1ANM. At the moment, nobody knows  if and when he could return on air.

Hams should recall the “Award  & Trophy Program”, launched by Russian Robinson Club and published on WAP website on last Jan 7^th 2020 to celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of discovering Antarctica.

200 years is an important Anniversary and the well known at WW level:  “Russian Robinson Club “ is happy for the highest participation achieved by the program in honor of the bi-centenary of discovering Antarctica.

The results of the “Diploma” have been summed up on June 19^th 2020 by checking the 400  logs received.
To check the pdf  list click  here –> 2020_RRC_Ant_Results

Full info at: http://robinsons.ru/news/podvedeny_itogi_diplomnoj_programmy_v_chest_200_letija_otkrytija_antarktidy/2020-06-19-505   

Winners that will receive the rewards in  recognition of their achievements. are:

Ham Section
1^st   I1HYW     Gianni Varetto                  Italy    3525 points
2^nd  RA3RKG Ivanov Alexander A.        Russia 1454 points
3^rd  UA9CGL   Vladimir P. Batuev           Russia 1279 points

SWL Section
1^st      R1A-644/mm           Russia          550 points
2^nd      UA1-113-64             Russia          250 points
3^rd      R4A                       Russia          240 points

TNX RZ3EC  @ Russian Robinson Club

The Bove Commission (COM-BO) is formed by a group of experts and volunteers from governmental and private institutions, with the common goal of getting more historic information on the dismantling of the Italian Giacomo Bove Station in Antarctica (WAP ITA-Ø1).

It is known that, in september 1976,  the argentine ship ARA G.ral S. Martin Q4, “El Sapo” with approximately 30 marines from the Armada, was called to  remove the Italian Scientific Station built by Cepparo’s Expedition and named after Giacomo Bove . The  removed material was  first transferred to other ship,  ARA Bahia del Buen Suceso and then, to Buenos Aires where it should still be available in some containers of the Armada, forgotten or hidden in some old building of the Armada.

40 years ago the political situation both in Argentina and in Italy was much different compare to now.  After more than 40 years, it is time to open the folders and look for the documents that explain to the Italians and the Argentines what was the real reason for this choice.

The great friendship, that  joins the two Cuntries today, could be the element that will allow to shed light on a situation that nowadays  is still very strange!

To those who wish to add something, or leave a comment on this subject,  please use this email: combove@virgilio.it

Marble Point, (WAP USA-28) 77° 26′ South, 163° 50′ East, is a rocky promontory on the coast of Victoria Land, Antarctica. The United States operates a Station at the point. The outpost is used as a helicopter refueling station, supporting scientific research in the nearby continental interior such as the McMurdo Dry Valley. Weather permitting, helicopters are able to fly in and out of the station 24 hours a day during the summer research season.

The station’s remote location and adjoining frozen sea have largely stemmed tourism in the area. However, the Russian icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov conducts cruises in the Ross Sea and McMurdo Sound. In 1993, the icebreaker docked at fast ice offshore Marble Point. Tourists aboard helicopters launched from the icebreaker, flew excursions into the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

The way station at Marble Point, is located on a narrow strip of land between Wilson Piedmont Glacier and the sea about 50 miles from McMurdo Station WAP USA-22.

United States military forces built the camp on the western shores of McMurdo Sound in 1956 in conjunction with the forthcoming 1957-58 International Geophisical Year (IGY).

Christopher M Post, N3SIG (aka WZ3Q) has been active on 2004 from Marble Point Field Camp (WAP USA-28) signing KC4/N3SIG

Chris reports: -In March of 2005 I returned from my last trip to Antarctica… I have no further dates for deployments. After spending 18 Months working at McMurdo Station I made over 5,000 contacts! My last tour to Antarctica I served as Captain of the Antarctic Fire Department at McMurdo Station. Thanks to all the hams I contacted who made my unique journey to Antarctica a Ham operator’s dream adventure!
QSL card, has to be requested direct with proper return postage to:

Christopher M Post,
447 E. Garrison Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018,  USA