Sobral Scientific Base ( Base Base Científica Sobral or Base Sobral) was a permanent, all year-round and now only partially active Argentine Antarctic base and scientific Research Station located on the Filchner Ice Shelf at 81°04′05″South, 40°36′01″West. It bears its name in honor of the late 19th and early 20th century Argentine explorer Ensign José María Sobral, who had joined Dr. Otto Nordenskjöld’s ill-fated Swedish Antarctic expedition in 1903. Josè Maria Sobral  was the first Argentine known to winter in Antarctica.

The initial purpose of the Bse was to serve as a stopover on the route of the Argentine expedition to the South Pole, which was reached on December 10, 1965 in the so-called Operation 90.

Sobral Base (WAP ARG-Ø3) was founded on April 2, 1965 by a crew of 5 men from the Belgrano I Base (WAP ARG-Ø5) who sent a message to Buenos Aires the following day urging them to speed up the departure of the polar expedition by the first days of October, given the ice instability. Thus, on October 26, 1965, a group of 10 men left the Belgrano I Base and a few days later arrived at Sobral Base, reaching the South Pole on December 10, 1965.

Sobral Base (420 km south of Belgrano base and 780 km north of the South Pole), could accommodate a maximum of 7 people. Because the ice from the barrier caused cracks in the structures, the Base was closed on October 28, 1968 after 3 years of continuous service, and was quickly buried under the ice of the Filchner barrier. In November 1983, a reconnaissance patrol on Ski-Doo motorcycles with tow sleds, made up of six men, set out for the first time from the Belgrano II Base (WAP ARG-Ø6) with the mission of establishing a new route between Belgrano II and Sobral Base. They managed to locate the objective and reactivate it after 15 years, carrying out maintenance, communications, meteorological measurements and topographic reconnaissance tasks up to the Diamante mountain range, in places not visited by man. After 23 days of exploration, using nine days to go and four to return, they successfully returned to the Belgrano II leaving written testimonies in plastic tubes and marking the path with reeds and banners. After 14 years of this last reactivation, it was not possible to find it in 1997 when a patrol of 4 men from Belgrano II Base went in search of it. That patrol identified the place where the base should be located and established fuel depots for future operations in the region.

On December 13, 1999, a 7 man expedition that repeated the route to the South Pole arrived at the place indicated by the 1997 patrol, finding the remains of stakes and the Argentine flag, as well as fuel drums. The expedition searched for Sobral Base, finding it 11.5 km from its original position, finding the 3-meter-high antenna towers that protruded about 30 cm from the ice. The expedition members excavated the ice and managed to enter the base, staying there for two days.

On 10 October 2000 a six-men research expedition established a scientific camp at Sobral’s emplacement and measured local ozone levels with a spectrophotometer. The temporary occupation was conducted by personnel belonging to Belgrano II and a technician from the National Antarctic Directorate; since then, a new expedition is sent every year between September and December, where the lowest annual average concentration of ozone in Antarctica is recorded.

In order to reach the remote base this team must travel for distances up to 400 km (250 mi) over very rugged ice terrain filled with numerous cracks, which pose an often unpredictable threat. Snowcat heavy vehicles are used to cover half of the route; light vehicles like the Yamaha VK-540 II Ski-Doo are preferred for the rest. The party carries all the necessary equipment for a three-months stay, such as tents, fuel, supplies, survival kits, communication hardware and scientific instruments.

Sobral Base WAP ARG-Ø3, remains one of the most rare sites with very few Hamradio operations. 3 are the callsigns used from Base Sobral: LU1ZZ LU2ZZ and LU3ZRM.

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TNX Olivier F6EPN (Spratley Woody) for the help in finding old QSL

Viktor Perov piloted aircraft serving the Polar Stations SP-2, SP-3, SP-4 and SP-5. While working in the Arctic, Perov had to rescue people in distress more than once. In 1956, he participated in the rescue of the Norwegian-Swedish-Soviet expedition to Svalbard.

In 1957-1959, Perov worked as part of a Soviet Expedition to Antarctica. December 11, 1958 in the Crystal Mountains (Antarctica, coordinates: 72°00′ South,  29°00′ West. d.HGAO), 250 km from the Belgian Antarctic Station “King Baudouin” (WAP BEL-Ø1), a plane crashed with a Belgian expedition on board. Among the members of the expedition was Prince Antoine de Ligne (fr.) Rus.. The Captain of the Belgians was Gaston de Gerlache. Soviet polar explorers from Mirny Station (WAP RUS-Ø7) offered assistance in their rescue, and the Australian Mawson Sation (WAP AUS-Ø4) supported the flights. Viktor Perov was appointed commander of the aircraft (Li-2 with the tail number H-495) sent to search for them. The search was conducted in the most difficult weather conditions, in the absence of accurate maps and problems in radio communication. The situation was complicated by the unexplored terrain, which the Belgians flew out to map. After several days of searching, on December 16, the Belgian polar explorers were found and rescued. For this feat, Viktor Perov was awarded the Order of Leopold II in 1959, and the Order of the Crown in 2001.

Later, Viktor Perov was chairman of the Polar Commission of the Moscow Center of the Russian Geographical Society and co-chairman of the Soviet-Belgian Friendship Society. He wrote a book of memoirs “Polar Routes”.

TNX Oleg UA6GG (https://www.dxtrophy.com/)

Nordenskjöld’s Hut  aka Nordenskjöld House (64°21’49” South, 56°59’ 30” West) is a log hut built in February 1902 by the main body of the Swedish South Pole Expedition led by Otto Nordenskjold, who used the Snow Hill  island (aka Cerro Nevado island)  on the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula as a base to explore the surrounding areas between 1901 and 1903.  Currently,  the Argentine Republic administers it as the Sweden refuge.

Since July 26, 1965 Refugio Suecia is a National Historic Monument of Argentina, by decree No. 6058/1965 and as part of the Province of Tierra del Fuego , Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands^. It is also protected by the Antarctic Treaty, which designated it a 38^th Historic Site and Monument, through ATCM VII-9 designation of 1972 and following a joint proposal between Argentina and the UK to the Antarctic Treaty  Consultative Meeting

The Argentine Navy took possession of the Refuge on January 8, 1954, renaming it Refugio Suecia and proceeded to its restoration. On that day the frigate Captain Luis T. De Villalobos, commander of the transport ARA Bahia Aguirre, took possession of the Refuge facilities on behalf of the Government of the Argentine Republic and recorded the new name. On the same day in its vicinity the Betbeder Naval Shelter was built.  The Hut was used as a base for reconnaissance research in the summers of 1953-1954 and 1954-1955. In the early 1960s it had a warehouse with provisions for three people for three months. ​

The Refuge has been restored by the Argentine Antarctic Institute. It is enabled as a Museum and contains original objects of the expedition. Its conservation is carried out by Argentina and Sweden.

History
On February 12, 1902, the Swedish Antarctic Expedition led by Otto Nordenskjöld arrived on Cerro Nevado Island aboard the sailboat Antarctic provided with an auxiliary steam engine. The Captain of the ship was Carl Anton Larsen.
The leader of the expedition had to spend the winter on the island along with meteorologist Gösta Bodman, sailor Gustav Akerlund, all of them of Swedish nationality, and Argentine Josè Maria Sobral, ensign. They would carry out meteorological, magnetic, astronomical and hydrographic work, as well as expeditions on the sea ice to the neighboring islands and to the nearby area of the Antarctic Peninsula, a region later known as the Nordenskjold Coast, and which extends to the southwest of the island.​

On the northeast coast of the island a prefabricated wooden hut was mounted, covered externally with cardboard sheets ember bounded. 

Read more at: Hace 56 años declaraban Monumento Histórico Nacional a la cabaña donde invernó el primer argentino en la Antártida – Gaceta Marinera

and

antartic (histarmar.com.ar)

A new deep-Field Camp has been established in the Bunger Hills, near the Denman Glacier in East Antarctica, for scientists to begin studying climate change impacts in the region.

The Camp was constructed over 55 days by a small team of Australian trade and field personnel, who were flown to the site 450 kilometres west of Casey Research Station (WAP AUS-Ø2), in December 2022.

The Team assembled four prefabbricated Huts and 11wooden platforms on a rocky outcrop and the Research site is now ready for major Antarctic Science Campaign. The camp will house up to 40 scientists and support personnel working on and around the glacier next season.

Read more at: https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2023/happy-campers-research-site-ready-for-major-antarctic-science-campaign/?fbclid=IwAR2-HPy5OYok2ELPbU583bmgaeLgSfZlqjGAiWqEvW0NNF8ricaOLD-FgSc

Bunger Hills, also known as Bunger Lakes or Bunger Oasis, is a coastal range on the Knox Coast in Wilkes Land, Antarctica, consisting of a group of moderately low, ounded coastal hills, overlain by morainic drift and notably ice free throughout the year, lying south of the Highjump Archipelago. 

Bunger Hills-Deman Glacier Camp  at 66°17’ South, 100°47’ East will enter on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP AUS-NEW

During the last Antarctic Summer Campaign,  a staff from the Argentine Joint Antarctic Command set a shelter for scientific personnel on Vega Island and called it Refugio Teniente Primero Aroldo Serrano. This is a brand new entry on WAP-WADA Antarctic Directory and referenced  as ARG-NEW.  (Pic aside show the building operation of the Refuge)

Vega Island,  57°50’South, 57°33’ West  is a small island to the northwest of James Ross Island, on the Antarctic Peninsula. It is separated from James Ross Island by Herrbert Sound and from Trinity Peninsula by Prince Gustav Channel. The island was named by Otto Nordenskjold, leader of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition (1901–04) in honour of the ship making the first voyage through the Northeast Passage, 1878-79.

Vega island, 17 mi long and 6 mi wide, is the northernmost of the James Ross Island group and lies in the Western part of Erebus and Terror Gulf.  Surveyed by SwAE in October 1903, when its insularity was established, and named Vega  after the Swedish ship Vega used by Baron A. E. Nordenskiöld  (uncle of the Leader of SwAE) in making the first voyage through the Northeast Passage,

TNX Gabry IK1NEG

Antarctic Ambassadors is a global community of people who love and respect the region, educate others by sharing their Antarctic experiences, advocate for Antarctica when opportunities arise and protect Antarctica by making positive changes at home.

 Volker Strecke DL8JDX  has been awarded as Antarctic Ambassador of the IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators).
After a long absence from Antarctica during a “usual” job in IT and Communication for 29 years Volker Strecke DL8JDX, three times wintering in Antarctica, 1988-1989 Georg Forster Station, 1990-1992 Georg Forster Station, 1992-1994 Neumayer II Station, as communication electronician and radio operator,  had the luck and honour to go back again in 2023 as a lecturer and expedition guide, creating Antarctic Ambassadors himself with lectures and carefully guided shore excursions.

Volker wrote: “Since returning I have delivered several presentations using my experience in Antarctica and sharing the history of the Antarctic Treaty.  Antarctic Ambassadorship is important. With ambassadorship it is possible to make visible the importance of the further protection of Antarctica. We see how quickly the climatic changes affect the polar regions. Therefore, everything must be done to at least slow down this process and to give people information on how everyone can contribute directly or indirectly to preserve the sensitive nature of Antarctica for future generations. My presentations on many different occasions and also my work as a lecturer and expedition guide on board expedition ships in Antarctica are a contribution to this.”

TNX and Congrats to Volker Strecke DL8JDX

7th March 1948-7th March 2023. 
Established on March 7, 1948  Macca celebrates the 75th anniversary of its foundation.

In the early hours of the morning of 7th March 1948, HMALST 3501 (later renamed HMAS Labuan) anchors at Buckles Bay, Macquarie Island 54° 29′ 56″ South, 158° 56′ 17″ East.

The ANARE team had arrived to establish a base that was to be permanently occupied for the next 75 years. The ANARE Club pays tribute to the 1306 men and women expeditioners who have wintered there during these 75 years.
The Voyage Leader of the 1948 Expedition, and Captain of the Ship, was Lieutenant Commander George Dixon

Macquarie Island is located half way between Tasmania and Antarctica and a Station was established on the “green sponge” in 1948. The Island was used as a half way point to establish the first radio link between Australia and Antarctica during Sir Douglas Mawson’s 1911 expedition.
The Macquarie Island Station (WAP AUS-Ø8) ,  commonly called Macca,  is a permanent Australian Subantarctic Research Base, managed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). The station lies at the base of Wireless Hill, between two bays on the isthmus at the northern end of the island.

To celebrate the 75th event, a  special postage-paid envelope has been issued. Release date: 7 February 2023. See: Shop (auspost.com.au) and Australian Antarctic Program: 75 Years – Australia Post (australiapostcollectables.com.au)

Great emotions this year with several Antarctic Stations on our Logs!

Now the operators are almost leaving the Icy Continent;  some are already back home,   others are approaching the return,  others are still on site for another 20-25 days,  as for example the Czeck Team actually at Johan Georg Mendel Station (WAP CZE-NEW) or the Argentineans at Petrel Base (WAP ARG-17) as well as the Overwintering Teams at the several Bases  who areapproaching the loong South Polar night. Our thanks go to the Argentinean operators at Esperanza LU1ZV and  Belgrano II  LU1ZG,  the Russian RI1ANC from Vostok RI1ANU at Bellingshausen,  who are still on,   to continue to be on air  or VU2CUW at Maitri waiting to be on air!.

WAP is following the overwintering Teams  hoping to work some of the operators before too long … but how not to be grateful to David FT4YM for his wonderful activity from the various Antarctic sites , some of which, never worked before! How not to be grateful to the 3YØJ Team for the exciting operation at Bouvet Island another new one for many of us, to Sebastiam VP8/SQ1SGB from Halley 6-a Station and as VP8/SQ1SGB/p from Wolf’s Fang Runway (WFR) together with Oleg Sakharov ZS7ANF that, in addtion to the WFR, he did operate from Whichaway Camp WAP MNB-11. About Oleg, in a message sent to WAP, he wrote:  «300 QSO from WhichAway this time. I came back to WFR after 8 hours car driving. We did close the camp now and we are back to Cape Town»

 

Thanks to Oleg UA6GG-DX Trophy  who sent us  a picture (here on the side) showing some very well known brigade of Antarcticians friends who haven’t seen each other for a very long time,  joining a  festive meeting at Cape Town, South Africa after the tiring experience in Antarctica. (L-R Oleg Sakharov ZS7ANF, Axel Schernikau DL6KVA, Oleg Neruchev ZS1OIN together with a group of ZS Hams).

TNX all the Operators of 2022-2023 Antarctic Season, thank  you for giving us so many emotions again this year!

WAP is grateful to Luis Alberto Gomez LU1BR and Roberto Gonzales Gavio LU3CQ  who did share for WAP readers, a video of LU1ZV and its activity from Esperanza Base on the Antarctic peninsula.

This is the first “Radio Buletin Antartico Argentino” with emphasis  to the Ham Radio activity from Antarctic Continent as well as the broadcasting station LRA36 “Radio Nacional Arcangel  Gabriel” at Base Esperanza,  plus other additional information of the Argentina’s activity for the other Research Stations in Antarctica where Ham Radio operators have been always on air.

TNX LU1BR & LU3CQ

On February 22, 1904, the Meteorological Observatory on Laurie Island, South Orkneys which would later become the Orcadas Base  (WAP ARG-15), did start its historic milestone that marked the beginning of Argentina’s uninterrupted stay in Antarctica, which has already been more than 116 years.

 

Thus, Argentina became the Country with the longest stay in Antarctica, and today it is also the Country with the most bases on the Continent: six permanent stations and seven temporary ones that only open in summer. The establishment of Argentina’s Antarctic Bases, during the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, allowed Argentina to settle in different areas of the so-called Argentine Antarctic Sector

To commemorate the date of that  inauguration, the 22nd February of  each year Argentina celebrates its Antarctica Day, which falls exactly onto the WAP Antarctic Activity Week (AAW), of which, by the way,  this year is the twentieth edition-  The AAW 2023 is  “on air”  till the 26th of February. Check the bands there are several SES active, make contacts and apply for the Special free Award.

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Check also AAW 2023 at: http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2023/

Robert Guillard Base is a French-Italian station managed by the French Polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV) and the Programma Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide (PNRA)

The station located at 66°41’31″South,  139°53’46″East was established in the early 1990’s on the Antarctic continent, close to the sea and at about 5 km far from Dumont d’Urville Station (WAP FRA-Ø1).

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Robert Guillard Station is the point of departure of the traverses to Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3) which is equidistant (about 1200 km) from the Italian coastal stations Mario Zucchelli (WAP ITA-Ø1) and the French Dumont D’Urville (DDU). The transfer of personnel, material and scientific equipment from the coastal bases takes place both by air, using two twin-engine aircraft, and by land through convoys of tracked vehicles, called sleepers, departing from Robert Guillard  Station at Cap Prud’Homme, a small jointly (FRA & ITA) managed Base, located near DDU.

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The PNRA ensures the air transport of personnel and light loads, while the organization of sleepers is entrusted to the IPEV. The Robert Guillard Station can accommodate 20 people and is managed within the agreement for Concordia.

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FT4YM David Brunet (F4FKT) pic aside  did operate from  Robert Guillard Base on last 11 & 12 febr. 2023 on 20 mts band.

A new WAP Reference  MNB-18 has been issued following the very first activity from this site.

 

TNX David FT4YM & F5PFP

Esperanza Base (WAP ARG-Ø4) is located in the extreme northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula in an area free of ice during the summer season that forms a land extension on the southern coast of Esperanza Bay, surrounded by imposing glaciers. It is the northernmost of the facilities that Argentina maintains in the Argentine Antarctic Territory.

On February 17, 18 and 19, 2023, within the framework of the XV edition of the “South American Lighthouses Weekend”,  a “Light Houses”  which were never activated before, very close to the Esperanza Base, will be on  air : the Baliza Rocas denticuladas Posterior Esperanza (aka  Baliza Enfilación Posterior Esperanza)  ANC-007,  at 63°23′54″ South  – 56°59′46″ West, will be activated for the first time.  It’s a round cylindrical fiberglass tower three meters high supported on a cement and stone base, the lower half painted green and the upper half yellow (see pic aside). The light that is projected towards Esperanza Bay,  is white.

Alejandro Álvarez LU8YD, Electronic Engineer and Juan Carlos Benavente LU8DBS, graduate in Social Communication, will be responsible of  the operation, using the LU1ZV base license. The main modes will be SSB and Digital FT8 and FT4, in as many bands as possible, according to the availability of working hours and propagation. The station is already assembled at the headquarters of the LRA36 station, which is in a modernization stage, with the equipment that Alejandro brought to Antarctica, an Icom 7000 with an Expert 1300w Linear Amplifier and a notebook, using the rhombic antenna from the Radio Nacional and it is probable that he will also assemble a G5RV. 
By exception, the operation of LU1ZV on February 17, 18 and 19 only, will be confirmed by the event organizer R.C. GDXBB. digitally by sending the contacts made  to encuentrofaros@gmail.com , eQSL, LOTW and postal via LW6EGE.
Esperanza Base has two Light houses recognized by the ARLHS that were never activated. These are the Anterior Denticulated Rocks, 63°24’ South,  56°59′ West (ARLHS ANC-006) picture to the right  and the Posterior Denticulated Rocks (ARLHS ANC-007) 63°23′54″ South,  056°59′46″ West picture to the left . 
TNX Carlos Almirón (LU7DSY)

Located at 54°27’South, 03° 28’ East, Cape Fie (or Kapp Fie) is a cape marking the Sutheast extremity of Bouvetøya Island, Peri Antarctic   It was first roughly charted in 1898 by a German expedition under Carl Chun, and was re-charted and named by the Norwegian expedition under Captain Haral Horntvedt  who explored the area from the Norvegia in December 1927

Other Ham radio activites did show up from Bouvet Island in the past, but they were located at Nyrosa  (WAP NOR-Ø2) on the Northwestern side of the Island.

On 6 febr.2023, 3YØJ began his Ham radio activity from there. It has not been an easy task but the Team was finally able to set the Camp on a top flat area at Cape Fie.

Being this one a new Camp site, Cape Fie is entering on WAP-WADA Directory as WAP NOR-14, and at the same time 3YØJ is entering on WAP-WACA Directory as well,  as a new callsign on the list.

While keeping our finger scrossed,  we hope all the best for the continuation of this hard DX-pedition.

WAP, the antarctic hunters, and the entire world of radio amateurs are following the progress of the expedition with great interest.

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Thanks guys, you are just amazing

As in the past years, Paolo, IK3GER  https://www.ik3ger.it  has issued  a special Diploma  available during the 20th Antarctic Activity Week

 “CALLING ANTARCTICA 2023”   is  a Certificate  free to e OM  & SWL who will contact the SES during the 20^th Antarctic Activity Week (19-26 febr.2023). Any AAW SES have a specific WAP reference number which can be used also for WAP Awards.
TNX Paolo, IK3GER

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The certificate is free, just read the rules how to get it. Click the link here aside Calling Antarctica 2023

S/Y Marama is a custom sailing yacht launched in 2009 by N2A, in France. Designed to give its crew maximum safety regardless of sea and wind conditions,  this extraordinary Yacht seems to be the best choice to sail the Antarctic waters. Everything is oversized on board, from hull sampling to mast and rigging sections, an extremely robust expedition sailboat capable of any type of navigation.

Marama measures 31.00 m in length, with a max draft of 3.50 m and a beam of 6.70 m, with a top speed of 12.00 knots and a cruising speed of 10.00 knots. She is powered by a single screw propulsion system.

Marama accommodates up to 12 guests in 6 cabins. She also houses room for up to 6 crew members. With its multiple voyages to Antarctica, this stupendous sailing ship was chosen by the 3Y0J Team for the 2023 expedition to Bouvet Island.

On the way to the island, operators (*) on board,  did show up /MM and now that the DX expedition has reached the destination and preparing to set up the operational Base camp,  we are pleased to announce that S/Y Manama will be included in the list of Polar ship of the WAP-WACA Directory

(*) VE3LYC/MM, NP4A/MM, DL6KVA/MM, LA7GIA/MM, LB5GI/MM, KO8SCA/MM, KO7SS/MM, AB5EB/MM, WD9COV/MM

Volker Strecke DL8JDX is touring around Antarctica on board of a cruise Ship. Yesterday  Volker  sends WAP a couple of pictures; one of this is the Refuge Armada Argentina, also  known as Groussac Refuge (WAP ARG-18) on Petermann island, a small, low and rounded island, lying off the northwest coast of Kyiv in Graham Land, Antarctica, a short distance south of Booth Island and the Lemaire Channel. It is a popular tourist destination.

Opened on February 6, 1955, Grussac Naval refuge  (65° 10’ 33” South, 64° 08’ 10” West), on Petermann Island,  was originally named to Hipólito Bouchard.,  It takes its current name in homage to Paul Groussac (1848-1929), a  French writer and historian based in Argentina and author of an allegation about the Argentine sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Close to this  Argentine naval refuge ( an old corrugated iron shack in rusted colors), lays a simple cross monument, an unreadable metal plaque  with  just one word “John” recalls the dead of a man of the British Antarctic Survey, who tried to get here over the sea ice in 1982..

On Peterman Island,  there  is a cairn  (the original one is in Paris at Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle) erected on the hill in 1909. The cairn, with a replica plaque, has been designated a Historical site or Monument (HSM 27), following a proposal by Argentina, France and the United Kingdom.

TNX Volker DL8JDX

Cape Adare is a prominent cape of black basalt forming the northern tip of the Adare Peninsula and the north-easternmost extremity of Victoria  Land, East Antarctica and an important landing site and Base Camp during early Antarctic Exploration.

Cape Adare is the site of  Borchgrevink’s Hut, and  Terra Nova Expedition’s Hut where members of the Northern Party of Scott’s Terra Nova  Expedition over-wintered in 1911 and 1912. They also erected another hut, which has fallen into ruin today., This site have been designated a Histopric Site or Monument (HSM 22), following a proposal by New Zealand and the United Kingdom to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. This site belongs and his administered by New Zealand.

As yet, there is no evidence of amateur radio activity being performed from this site,  so it remains listed on WAP-WADA Directory as  WAP NZL-NEW.

Map above show both Adare Cape  and Hallett Cape

Cape Hallett, located 63 miles (101 km) to the South of Cape Adare, is a snow-free area on the northern tip of the Hallett Pensula on the Ross Sea coast of  Victoria  Land, East Antarctica.  he cape was the location of a joint scientific base, Hallett Station, (WAP MNB-08) between the United States and New Zealand during the International Geophisical Year of 1957, and was manned permanently until 1964, when there was a major fire. It was then used as a summer only base until 1973. 

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The callsign of Hallett Base (WAP MNB-08) was KC4USH; with several QSLs issued (See pics here aside); some of KC4USH QSL cards,  reports Cape Adare which was probably meant to be Cape Hallett.

Pic to the Right:  Cape Hallett Station in 1961-1962 showing the elevated radar weather-balloon tracking dome that was reportedly used for plant growth as early as 1958 (Image credit: John Cranfield ©Antarctica New Zealand Pictorial Collection [ANZSC0163.2][1961-1962]).

 

History

In 1899 the Norwegian explorer Carsten Borchgrevink sailed to Antarctica aboard the converted scaler Southern Cross. At Cape Adare, Borchgrevink and nine compan­ions built a Hut and established an expedition Base Camp. During the next six months, Borchgrevink and his team became the first men to overwinter on the southern conti­nent. A 28-year-old zoologist in the party died and be­came the first individual buried on the continent. When Borchgrevink returned to Europe in the spring of 1900, he had, in effect, started a race for the South Pole that would be won in 1911 by his boyhood friend, Roald Amundsen.

The site was revisited both by Robert Falcon Scott’s British National Antarctic Expedition (1901-1904) and by his Terra Nova expedition (1910-1913). Pic below show the Borchgrevink’s Hut

Members of the Northern Party of Scott’s Terra Nova  Expedition over-wintered at Cape Adare in 1911 and 1912. They also erected one hut, which has fallen into ruin today. The remains of two Borchgrevink’s Hut, as well as those of the Terra Nova Expedition’s hut, have also been designated a Histpric Site or Monument (HSM#22), following a proposal by New Zealand and the United Kingdom to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.

Read more at: Cape Adare Camp Completed | Antarctic Heritage Trust (nzaht.org)

 

The web shows a book titled “The United States Coast Guard and Borchgrevink’s hut at Cape Adare, Antarctica, 1961.  DEEPFREEZE 61 TASK FORCE 43 1961.pdf (navy.mil)

Check page 154/157 for some mention of Cape Hallett/Adare

It was Norwegian explorer, Carsten Borchgrevink and his expedition team who started building the huts on 20 February 1899 on the remote site. The main Living Hut was constructed to house the expedition party along with a Stores Hut for their provisions. The party moved in a few days later, on 1 March, the day the Southern Cross sailed, leaving the men to spend several months in cramped, uncomfortable isolation. On 24 July 1899, it was lucky one of the buildings survived, when a candle set the hut lining alight. Later in the year, one of the men, Nicolai Hanson, suffered a debilitating illness, and died in the hut on 14 October 1899, becoming the first person to die on the Antarctic Continent.

When the Southern Cross returned for the party on 28 January 1900, the men started to dismantle the Stores Hut, removing its roof, with the intention of taking it with them to use elsewhere. However, they left on 2 February 1900 before completing this task and it wasn’t until 18 February 1911 that the Huts at Cape Adare were occupied again, following the arrival of Scott’s Northern Party (led by Victor Campbell). As well as erecting their own kitset wooden hut, they made good use of what was left of Borchgrevink’s encampment, covering the unroofed Stores Hut with canvas to make a storeroom, and utilizing the Living Hut as a gymnasium and darkroom.

Since the Northern Party’s departure from Cape Adare, there have been only sporadic visits to the remote site. New Zealand parties visited a couple of times during the 1960s and 70s to undertake repairs, before Canterbury Museum sent an expedition party to the site in 1982 to carry out maintenance work, complete drawings of the huts, and document the artefacts.

The first party from Antarctic Heritage Trust visited in 1990 and carried out significant preservation works to the huts. This focus continued on the Trust’s next visit in 2003, when condition reports for the artefacts were also completed.

More latterly, during the summer season of 2015–2016, a small team from the Trust spent two weeks at Cape Adare gathering close to 1500 artefacts from one of the huts and carrying out further repairs and maintenance. The artefacts were later conserved in Christchurch, and seven of these very special items now feature on the Trust’s AR App.

More links of Cape Adare at:

Cape Adare | Antarctica NZ

Borchgrevink’s Hut | Antarctic Heritage Trust (nzaht.org)

Visitor Site Guidelines – 45. Cape Adare (ats.aq)

 

Our friend Volker Strecke DL8JDX is  an Antarctic veteran who spend several years in the Icy Continent.

After a 19 hours flight, Volker did land at Ushuaia (WAP ARG-23), then he moved to  Punta Arenas-Chile,  where he had a chance to meet Luis CE8EIO (picture aside show DL8JDX meeting with Luis CE8EIO in Punta Arenas in Front of the Magellan Memorial).

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Volker did ask Luis to be on air for EU and indeed CE8EIO has been on 28508 all afternoon of Saturday Jan. 21 making some hundred QSOs with EU, giving many a chance to log WAP CHL-13 (TNX DL8JDX & CE8EIO).

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Actually, Volker is embarked on a cruise ship as a lecturer and Tour Guide (no possibility for Radio… ) at an Antarctica expedition. The trip is including  Argentina, Chile, South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula and will last till  Feb. 18th, 2023.

The cruise is going to  South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula were visiting King George Isl., Half-Moon-Island, Port Locktoy, Melchior Island and Petermann Island.

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Yesterday,  jan 21st, the Polar ship passed near Half Moon Island where the Argentine Summer Station Teniente Camara  (WAP ARG-16) is located (see the pic aside sent by Volker)

Volker said: “After 29 years from my last return from the Antarctic in 1994 I am really happy to be back here again. In my second home …”

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WAP is proud and happy to follow the trip, pity that it is not possible to do radio activity from there, but we thanks Volker DL8JDX anyway to share his new experience with us!  

Nearly 15 years ago, a major restoration project had been taking place at the old abandoned whaling station at Port Jeanne d’Arc. This had been built late in the 19th century by a Norwegian company and abandoned early last century when factory ships made land-based whaling uneconomic. For years the weather and vandalism had been destroying the station, until Jean-François Le Mouël convinced the administration of TAAF  that it should be preserved.

The Kerguelen Islands are located at 49°15′South, 69°35′East. The main island, Grande Terre, originally called Desolation Island, is 6,675 km² and it is surrounded by another 300 smaller islands and islets, forming an archipelago of 7,215 km².
Satellite Islands
The following is a list of the most important adjacent islands:
Île Foch in the north of the archipelago, at 49°0’ South, 67°19’ East, is the largest satellite island with an area of 206.2 km² (79.61 mi²). Its highest point, at 687 m (2,254 ft.), is called La Pyramide Mexicaine.
Île Howe, which lies less than one kilometer off the northern coast of Ile Foch is, at ~54 km² (21 mi²), the second most important off-lier in the Kerguelens, 48°52’South, 69°27’ East.
Île Saint-Lanne Gramont, is to the west of Île Foch in the Golfe Choiseul. It has an area of 45.8 km² (17.68 mi²). Its highest point reaches 480 m (1,575 ft.), 48°55’South, 69°12’ East.
Île du Port, also in the north in the Golfe des Baleiniers at 49°11’South, 69°36’ East, is the third largest satellite island with an area of 43 km² (16.6 mi²); near its center it reaches an altitude of 340 m (1,115 ft.).
Ile de l’Ouest, west coast, about 40 km² (15.44 mi²), 49°21’South, 68°44’ East.
Île Longue, southeast, about 40 km² (15.44 mi²), 49°32’South, 69°54’ East  is the largest island in the Golfe du Morbihan. Port-Bizet, on the northeastern coast of the island, is the site of a seismographic station and also served until 2012 as the principal farm for the island’s resident flock of about 3,500 Bizet sheep, which were raised to feed the base personnel at Port-aux-Français. The species, endemic to the Massif Central region of France, was first introduced to Kerguelen in 1952.
Îles Nuageuses, northwest, including Île de Croÿ, Île du Roland, Îles Ternay, Îles d’Après, 48°37’South, 68°44’ East.
Île de Castries, 48°41’South, 69°29’ East.
Îles Leygues, north, including Île de Castries, Île Dauphine, 48°41’South, 69°29’ East.
Île Violette, 49°07’South, 69°40’ East.
Île aux Rennes, also known as Reindeer Island or Australia Island, in the western part of the Golfe du Morbihan, area 36.7 km² (14.17 mi²), altitude 199 m (653 ft.), 49°27’South, 69°51’ East.
Île Haute, western part of the Golfe du Morbihan, altitude 321 m (1,053 ft.), 49°23’South, 69°55’ East.
Île Mayès, 49°28’20”South, 69°55’55” East.

Here below an abstract of the history:

The exploitation of marine resources on the Kerguelen Plateau only began in 1790 (18th century) after the discovery of the northern Kerguelen Islands in 1772. Salted fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) skins was the first product to be commercialized by Nantucket (USA) and London (UK) ship-owners, mainly on the Kerguelen Islands, and by the early 19th century the seal colonies were decimated.

https://youtu.be/dwAcpFxBGzE

Exploitation of marine species on the Kerguelen Plateau began soon after the discovery on 13th February 1772 of the northern Kerguelen islands by the expedition of Y.J. de Kerguelen de Trémarec with the Gros Ventre and the Fortune.
The first sealing voyages (1791-1793) were reported from the United States of America and United Kingdom twenty years later. For more than 50 years during this early period, sealing occurred only around the Kerguelen islands. It was only with the development of whaling and sealing voyages in the region that sealers from the north-eastern coast of the USA discovered the second and southern sealing ground on the plateau, Heard and mcDonald islands, during the 1853-1855 cruise of Corinthian.
The exploitation of marine resources on the Kerguelen Plateau only began in 1790 (18 th century) after the discovery of the northern Kerguelen islands in 1772. salted fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) skins was the first product to be commercialized by Nantucket (usa) and london (uK) ship-owners, mainly on t Phase 1, 1908-1911: the whaling station at Port Jeanne d’Arc and the Mangoro campaign (1910).
A 50-years exclusive licence was granted to the Bossière brothers by the French government in 31 July 1897 for the exploitation of the Kerguelen Islands. During the rst period (1908-1911) they transferred the rights to two companies, Aktieselskabet Kerguelen and Société des Pêcheries de Kerguelen (Arnaud and Beurois, 1996).  Storm, Bull & Co. which was active from 1908-1911 established a whaling factory station at Port-Jeanne d’Arc in Morbihan Bay.

The oil carrier Jeanne d’Arc (76 m, 1332 t) and three whale catchers (two sister ships Espoir and Éclair, 51 m, 540 t, and Etoile, 30 m, 165 t) were linked to the station. The total whale catch resulting from this activity was 442 whales (95% humpback, the balance right whales). Their best year was in 1908 when 232 whales were caught and a total of 13 760 barrels of oil were produced. Activity progressively shifted to hunting elephant seals with peak production in 1911 of 10 680 barrels and a total production of 17 000 barrels of oil. However, the activity was not profitable enough and the station fell into disuse.

Read more at: History of whaling, sealing, fishery and aquaculture trials in the area of the Kerguelen Plateau | French Ichthyological Society – Cybium (sfi-cybium.fr)

Another 3 entries on the 20th AAW going to start next february 19, 2023.

Austria with its 4 participants, appears to be the most represented Country.

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Congratulations to OE3DMA, OE3KKA, OE3AIS and OE3SGA for their continued presence to celebrate the annual event that leads to being close to Antarctica, to the scientific research,  in memory of so many explorers and scientists who have been studying and working in this fascinating Continent for over 100 years.

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OE3DMA, Alex          will be OE2ØANT      WAP-348

OE3KKA, Karl           will be OE88WAP       WAP-088

OE3AIS, Bert           will be OE89ANT        WAP-089

OE3SGA, Gus          will be OE9ØANT       WAP-090

Good job guys, keep up the good work!

Check the list of the OMs who have already confirmed their presence at the 20th edition of the Antarctic Activity Week at:
http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2023/

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Be ready, join us and enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

ARA Libertad  is a tall ship which serves as a school ship in the Argentine Navy. She was built in the 1950s at the Rio Santiago shipyards near Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her maiden voyage was in 1962, and she continues to be a school ship with yearly instruction voyages for the graduating naval cadets.

She has just finished (April 2007) undergoing a general overhaul which includes the addition of facilities for female cadets and crew in line with current diversity policies in the Navy and the updating of the engines and navigation technology.

The Directorate of Communications of the Argentine Navy through the Auxiliary Service of Radio Amateurs of the Navy, issue a special free cerificate to the Hams who worked  LU8AEU/MM, Fragata A.R.A Libertad during her training trip “Number 50” in the past year 2022

To get the Diploma, which will be sent via e-mail, just go to LU8AEU – Callsign Lookup by QRZ Ham Radio and click the logo (same of this one here below).

 

You will enter into the form which has to be filled (Callsign, Name and Surname in capitol letters, your email where you wish to receive the Certificate, GMT time,  Band and mode). When you finished, press SEND.  Certificate will shortly come at your mailbox adress.

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TNX  SARA-Servicio Auxiliar de Radioficionados de la Armada

Master roofer Dimitris Georgiadis (picture aside) will leave for Antarctica in mid-January and will be there until March. He will travel to the icy continent with scientists from Masaryk University in Brno, who are investigating climate change in Antarctica and solving dozens of research projects, including the effect of harsh polar conditions on the human organism.

The Mendel Polar Station (WAP CZE-NEW) on James Ross Island near the Antarctic Peninsula (see picture to the Right) is a showcase of Czech science. The master roofer must now ensure that it does not leak. On the main building of 250 square meters, he will lay a new PVC film with the help of a heat gun. If the weather is favorable, with the help of two technicians from the expedition, he will have everything ready in a week or so.

Then, in turn, he will help the technicians maintain the station while looking over the researchers’ shoulders as cutting-edge science is done. “I’m really looking forward to that too” Dimitris added with a smile, “I’m curious what awaits me. I have never driven so far for work”. 

His task will be to put a new roof on Johan Gregor  Mendel’s scientific base; the original expired after 15 years. 

Pavel Kapler, manager of the Czech Antarctic Research Program, can find anything for polar explorers, from new technical equipment for the station to quality thermal underwear, but getting a roofer to Antarctica was a chore.  In the mean while, ther’s some possibility that Ham Radio operation could also be performer from the unnumbered Mendel Station…never say never!  

Read more at: https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/domaci-stanici-v-antarktide-opravi-pokryvac-z-jeseniku-40418720?fbclid=IwAR2Ca-PUSr16vifN0GbI8pP7ppNfOC3IoL38eeJBIuAd-DZcNo-6YKUtukg

Petrel Base (WAP ARG-17) was commissioned in 22 febr. 1967. It was operated year round until 1978 and then, as a summer station. In the Antarctic season 1995/96 it was abandoned. The Station, is now to be reactivated. Work is advancing so that Petrel is coming to become a permanent base again after 40 years.

Back in 2013 a plan was drawn to reactivate  the Petrel Base as a permanent logistic center on the Antarctic Continent. Argentinean Teams start going to Petrel Base every summer to do small jobs. This involved making repairs around the house and bringing in some appliances and disposing from old garbage.

As of November 2022 Petrel became once again a permanent Base. A team of 18 is still there to carry out the necessary works to restore the infrastructure throughout the year. Another goal is to build a 1800 meters main runway and a secondary 1300 meters secondary runway where the Hercules C130 or smaller aircraft can operate. In addition personnel  will carry on hydrographic studies to determine the most suitable location for the construction of a dock that will allow operations with shipload.

In the mean time a major project to modernize Base Petrel in underway.  The “Petrel Joint Antarctic Base” will have a thermal housing modular house that will be built by Tandanor (acronym for Talleres Navales Dársena Norte).

A state of the art Antarctic home is planned, designed under the self-sustaining concept, which will cover not only all functional requirements, but also housing requirements in accordance with modern construction techniques.

The house will have an operational capacity of 60 people from the permanent staff, and 80 who are in transit, reaching a total capacity of 140 places, and the infrastructure to promote scientific research on Dundee Island.

Petrel functioned as a permanent base from 1967 to 1976, when a fire destroyed the main lodging house. With its reconstruction, this Base will form part of the Antarctic Logistics Pole next to the city of Ushuaia.

New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consist of five island groups: Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island,  in the Southern Ocean south-east of New Zealand. The islands, lying between the Antarctic and Subtropical Convergences and the seas, have a high level of productivity, biodiversity, wildlife population densities and endemism among birds, plants and invertebrates.

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According to the recent “new wording”  of the islands involved,  which are now known as “New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands”  versus the previous diction of  “New Zealand Outlying islands” WAP have already add  on Section 2 of the WAP-WADA Directory , few of them with their related references. As soon as new evidences of other Ham radio activities from different sites on the islands, they will be insert on WAP Directories. 

Here below one of those:  

Snares Castaway Depot & Research Hut  WAP NZL-10
Snares Islands-New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands
48° 01’South, 166° 32’East

The Castaway Depot built by the New Zealand government in the 1880s, is now maintained as an historic site by the Department of Conservation. (picture on the Right, show the old Depot) 

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The dining tent used in 1947 was sited where the current research hut is located. The corrugated iron structure  and the wood one is the same building.

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A video of the Snares is available here: https://youtu.be/_sPK92Oddig  

To all our friends all over the world, Hams, supporters and followers, to all the Antarctic and Artic lovers,  WAP Staff wish a PEACEFUL Christmas in the spirit of a real and sincere friendship.

Enjoy Antarctica as much as we do

 

Cape Hallett 72°19’ South, 170°16’ East,  was the location of a joint scientific base, Hallett Station, between the United States and New Zealand during the International Geophysical Year of 1957, and was manned permanently until 1964, when there was a major fire.

Hallett Station  was then used as a summer only base until 1973. The site is currently being remediated by removing hazardous materials: fuel, and oil stored in several large tanks. This is an ongoing project which will take several years to complete.

At the time, thirty Navy men and scientists were stationed at a “rookery” near Hallett Station from October through February to study the over 100,000 Adelie penguins which populate the area. These birds, 18 inches tall and weighing 14 pounds, return annually to breed and raise their young. An area of 74 ha, is protected under the Antarctic Treaty System as Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No.106 because it contains habitats with a rich and diverse range of plant communities that are the most extensive and representative examples known at the northern end of the latitudinal gradient of Victoria Land and the Ross Sea.

The only activity known from Hallett Station (WAP MNB-Ø8) was ZL5AC Ken Bargh (QSL aside)  who did operate from there in 1958 but also, on WAP-WADA Directory there is another ZL5AC but from Scott Station (WAP NZL-Ø1).

Now thanks to a couple of Antarctic veteran, Volker Strecke DL8JDX and Alan Cresswell ZL2BX,  WAP is proud to retrace a bit of that time, about this ZL5AC’s twins.
In a message sent to Volker DL8JDX, last Febr.3^rd,   Alan Cresswell ZL2BX (alancresswell@xtra.co.nz) wrote: -With regard to ZL5AC, I was in the Antarctic in 1974.  Firstly at  the New Zealand research station at Scott Base,  and then at the American Byrd Station on the Polar Plateau. My operating was restricted to visits to Scott Base as I was unable to operate from Byrd Station so,  I only managed a few hundred contacts. Most of my operating outside NZ was done  in my time in the Pacific Islands (ZK1AM, ZK1DR) where I had over 100.000 contacts. 73, Alan ZL2BX-

Alan  mentioned about Byrd Station.
It will be interesting to have more details  in particular about  Byrd Coast Camp  WAP USA-NEW  which is still unnumbered on WAP WADA Directory  but this  will another item to search for !
Here below a list of the actually referenced Byrds  sites:
1) Byrd VLF Substation (aka Longwire), WAP USA-Ø3
2) Byrd Station (aka Old Byrd Station), WAP USA-19
3) Byrd Surface Camp,  WAP-USA-20
5) Byrd Radio Noise Outpost (aka Conjugate Point Station), WAP USA-35
6) Byrd Aurora Substation.  WAP USA-41
7) Temporary Byrd Surface Camp,  WAP USA-45
8) Byrd Coast Camp,  WAP USA-NEW

Perhaps some Old Timers/Antarctic Veteran might recall some rare memories of that frame of the Antarctic era and help WAP to know a bit more.

 

Our US friends from Kansas are just welcomed on board of next Antarctic Activity Week

Jim, KBØMZFwrote:
Please show the KØANT (K0ANT – Callsign Lookup by QRZ Ham Radio) club (WAP-198) registered for the 20^th Edition of the Antarctic Activity Week – 19-26 February 2023.
Hoping all is well with you.  We always enjoy the great pictures you post on the web.  We miss seeing you on our Saturday video club meetings, but we have not been using Zoom since the COVID pandemic has been less of a concern. Looking forward to talking (by text, by RF, by pictures, and any other means possible) again soon. Sending copies to our club President, Don Whitney, and our good friend, Edmondo VA3ITA, in Toronto.  Hope it’s a good year for all!
Jim Vano, KBØMZF
Trustee and Secretary for KØANT

WAP did also appreciate the comment from Don, KCØWTT Club President:
«Hopefully we’ll have better AAW participation from our Club members this coming February. The past few years, between weather or the Kansas City Zoo policies, or COVID interfering with our remote Club operation has been disappointing. But it is a fabulous and educational event, and our Members like not only the event taking place, but the great information from the website about all the Antarctic news. We are looking forward to this event in 2023».
Sincerely, 
Don Whitney  KCØWTT

TNX to Jim KBØMZF, to Don KCØWTT and to all the great friend on KØANT Club

WAP Antarctic bulletin nr. 204 is available online.
Check: http://www.waponline.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/bull294.pdf

This one, is last bulletin of the year 2022 with the main information of Ham Radio activity from the Icy Continent  and the Peri Antarctic areas, as listed on WAP-WADA Antarctic Directory which contains nearly 1,000 Bases, Huts, Refuges,  Stations and Field Camps , all classified, sorted and numbered, according  to the Country of origin.

Bulletin is edited by Max IK1GPG, Betty IK1QFM & Gianni I1HYW

 

The 20th edition of the WW Antarctic Activity Week will be on air from  19th through 26th February 2023.

Purpose of the A.A.W. is to improve the Worldwide interest around Antarctic Continent and its related  matters

Today we are welcoming Kamel Ghalem 7X2GK who have just signed in,  with his special call 7T22ANT, WAP-345

Kamel, HAM since 2012 lives in Berrouaghia ( JM16kd ) in central part of Algeria , at 100 Km to the South  of Algiers City capital.

Kamel (picture on theright) wrote: We did participate last year to the 19th AAW with the same call, and it was a good and beneficial experience for all of us, and we hope that this year will be better .
Best greetings, 73 de 7X2GK     
Antarctic followers, Polar enthusiasts and Antarctica’s station hunters are invited to join the event, the unique one Worldwide, specifically dedicated to the Ham’s Activity in/with Antarctica.  

2023 marks the 20th anniversary since the launch of the first edition of the AAW in February 2004. Today WAP is proud to see that, since then,  it has continued regularly every year.

Join us and enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

Invitation to join is addressed to all Radio Amateurs (OMs & SWLs) around the world, to the Clubs and Organizations who would like to share with us this initiative.

After many years, KC4AAC from Palmer Station (WAP USA-23) is back on the air.

Voker DL8JDX reports: – Last night I saw on http://www.pskreporter.info  that KC4AAC was active in JS8 and WSPR.

The new operator for the season 2022-2023 is Cody Lewis,  see http://www.qrz.com/db/kc4aac

According to an info from his QSL Manager K7MT, Cody operates also in FT8. Because there is a Morse Key on the picture shown on QRZ.com he might be operating in CW as well.

It will be fine if some Hams in the US can set skeds with Cody.  For EU, windows on 20 mts opens from 17,00 through 21,00 UTC.
More info about Palmer Station (WAP USA-23):

https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/palmerst.jsp

http://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/palwebcam.cfm

https://www.palmerstation.com

TNX Volker, DL8JDX

Since July 1991, Guatemala is part of the signatory countries of the Antarctic Treaty with non-consultative status. IPOGUA (Instittuo Polar Guatemalteco) was established in 2013 as a Polar Exploration Institute that develops science, technology and expeditions to Antarctica to advance the understanding of planet earth, as well as to enforce the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty to which we are a part. 

In 2021, it inaugurated its facilities, which include research laboratories and an educational entertainment center called “POLARIUM”. IPOGUA is located in the department of Huehuetenango (Guatemala) and has several professionals who collaborate with said institution and with the contribution of three Guatemalan Universities that develop polar science. The main mission of IPOGUA is to lead and maintain the presence of Guatemala in Antarctica , through civil-military participation in scientific and technological research activities that promote the advancement of Guatemalan polar science.

This year , IPOGUA in compliance with its Antarctic Program 2022 managed to successfully coordinate its  first scientific expedition to Antarctica  through collaboration with the Observatory for Security, Defense and Cooperation of Barcelona, Spain.

One of the most ambitious goals of IPOGUA is to establish its own Polar Research Station in Antarctica, which allows international civil-military cooperation, as well as the reduction of exploration costs in a multi-use infrastructure, safe for users and that allows projects of innovative research beneficial to humanity to be developed.

First Guatemalan Antarctic Scientific Expedition 2022 
The expedition represented by a Guatemalan,  consist of a stay in Antarctica for around 20 days of the southern Antarctic summer distributed between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. While the IPOGUA representative researcher carries out different scientific or technological projects, Ing. Amb. Ricardo Molina will be accompanied by the staff of Premios Antárticos who are responsible for logistical coordination. 

IPOGUA especially encourages universities to be part of this first Antarctic scientific expedition, creating collaboration ties in favor of national science and technology. It is an opportunity to expand knowledge, generate new science, increase prestige, and make a homeland within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty. 
IPOGUA believes in Guatemala’s scientific and technological talent.

TNX Ing. Amb. Ricardo Molina Coronel (R) & Bruno Alonso Director IPOGUA

Read more at: www.ipogua.com  

Whichaway camp (built in 2010) is unique and the perfect base from which to start your adventure. Having won the World Travel Awards five times, the camp is also designed with a minimal environmental footprint in mind.
Whichaway Camp at  70° 45′ 49″ South, 11° 36′ 59″ East,  is in the Schirmacher Oasis at the lake Podprudnoye.

Dr. Volker Strecke DL8JDX  (Antarctic veteran) sent WAP a couple of interesting pictures showing that Whichaway Camp is  exactly located at the same position where the Georg Forster Hut  at 70°46′ South,   11°37′ East  was until 1993.
This aside, is how this place looked in 1989:

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This at the rigth,  is how it looked in 1991:

Picture on the left, shows the same site how it looks today.
Now it is called Whichaway Camp (WAP MNB-11):

In addition, Volker says that,  as far as he knows ,  at  Lake Prilednikovoye Hut and Lake Podprudnoye Hut (DDR-NEW listed on WAP-WADA  Directory ) ,  there were no Ham radio activities from these huts. Since 1996 both huts do not exist anymore. Together with the dismantling of the Georg Forster Station (WAP DDR-Ø1) from 1993 to 1996 these huts were removed, but the location of the first permanently occupied German Antarctic research station “Georg Forster” at the Schirmacher Oasis, Dronning Maud Land. The original site is situated by the Schirmacher Oasis is  marked by a commemorative bronze plaque with the label in German language and it is became HSM#87 (Historical Site and Monument).
The Huts will continue to remain listed on WAP-WADA  Directory  as a reliable trace of their presence on this related Antarctic site.
TNX Volker Strecke, DL8JDX (aka Y88POL & DPØGVN from 1988 to 1994)
1988-1989  Y88POL  Georg Forster Base  Schirmacher Oasis
1990-1992  Y88POL  Georg Forster Base  Schirmacher Oasis
1992-1994  DP0GVN  Neumayer II Base  Ekstroem Shelf Ice

The Australian Antarctic Division has moved swiftly to adjust its shipping plans for the 2022-23 season with Icebreaker RSV Nuyina unlikely to be in service due to a delay in receiving spare parts.
RSV Nuyina is currently in Singapore for scheduled maintenance. The ship arrived in Singapore in April and was due back in Hobart in October.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) and the ship’s operator Serco have been resolving issues and making repairs as part of the normal commissioning process during the warranty period.  AAD Director Kim Ellis said the works included improvements to the hydraulic control system within the propulsion system clutches.

Thanks and Creditit to:  https://www.antarctica.gov.au/nuyina/stories/2022/nuyina-maintenance-shifts-plans-for-antarctic-season/?fbclid=IwAR2fFHvpgddNztceSoPXfWidm-kRH9dCCWkyHCR26kEYme1LX9beP-QhpVo

Two additional vessels, Icebreaker Aiviq and an ice-strengthened Cargo ship Happy Dynamic, have been secured for the upcoming season to transport critical cargo and bring expeditioners home.

Australian Antarctic Division first chartered the Aiviq for the 2021/22 season. The ship undertook two voyages south, refueling Davis and Mawson and assisting with resupply and changeover of expeditioner teams. The Aiviq  (picture above) will form a large part of the 2022-23 shipping season, with RSV Nuyina’s return from maintenance delayed due to a delay in receiving spare parts.

27 years old  Eng. Sarabjeet Singh Chhabra (Sunny), is actually at Cape Town waiting the flight to Novo Runway (WAP MNB-Ø6) and from there, to Maitri Base (WAP IND-Ø3). Sunny will be down South for about a year as part of the 42nd Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica.

VU2CUW has been assigned to Maitri Station,  (pic below) . When there, he is going to use a just issued special callsign AT42I ( Alpha Tango 42 India) in  his spare time,  when he’s free from his normaly duty at the Base.

Sunny thanks VU2MUE Sandeep Baruah from Vigyan Prasar  for the 2 rigs to be used in Antarctica  and VU3BPZ, Antarctic veteran and good friend  that has always been a guidance for his  Antarctica journey

QSL manager for AT42I will be VU2CRS:
Ranjit Singh Chhabra,  110/8 Saraswati Sugarmill Colony,
Yamunanagar, Haryana  135001, India

TNX VU3BPZ

Vassdalsbua Hut (or Vassdalen  Hut)  is located at 72° 01’ 33” South,  2° 37’ 38” East in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica about 40 min from Troll Base (WAP NOR-11).

The Hut is around 25 square meters and is located  about  3,2 kilometers from Troll Station (72°00’S, 2°32’E).  The use of this  small recreational  Hut at Vassdalen about 40 min from Troll,  was approved by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment. It is heated by a kerosene (Jet A-1) stove. The transport is mainly carried out with snow mobiles on a well-known route for the visitors and calculated to 50 days a year with 2 guests on each visit.

Skiing, hiking in the mountains, running and shorter trips with snowmobiles and Band wagons are typical activities for the personnel at Troll Station. According to the information, Vassdalsbua Hut is in use since  2018. After a visit the garbage is transported back to environmental station at Troll. Sometimes,  researchers spend severl days at Vassdalsbua field Hut, collecting variety of soil and water samples for study

Source:

https://documents.ats.aq/EIA/02225enNPI%20EIA%202021-2030.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0DrltUCuEsQBeo23jLqCVMYZySwypVJx8C87se-HdrmJZc-A6cnr_0vbQ

The attached map shows the location of both Troll Station and Vassdalshytta (Vassdals Cabine).

At the light of the above evidences and pictures, Vassdalsbua  Field Hut 72° 01’ 33” South, 2° 37’ 38” East will enter on the  WAP-WADA Directory as WAP NOR-NEW. A reference number will be given as soon as Hamradio operation will be performed down there.

 

TNX IK1NEG & F6EPN (aka Spratley Woody) for their great help

Today, November 21^st , a C–130J military transport aircraft of the 46th Air Force Pisa Air Brigade, landed on the airstrip designed and built by ENEA and the Italian Air Force, the first in the Antarctic continent on a moraine

First test landing this morning on the new Antarctic airstrip designed and built by ENEA and the Italian Air Force, in collaboration with the Fire Brigade, thanks to a dedicated funding from the Ministry of University and Research. At 4.30 am Italian time, a C-130J of the 46th Air Brigade of the Italian Air Force successfully made the first landing on the semi-prepared runway destined to become an international hub in Antarctica at the service of scientific research, not only Italian.

The flight carried materials and food to deal with the emergency caused by the reduced thickness of sea ice, which this year did not allow large aircraft to land on the pack in front of the Italian Mario Zucchelli coastal Base at Terranova Bay.

60 meters wide and completed for the first 1,700 meters out of the 2,200 envisaged by the project, the track was built for the first time on a moraine, taking advantage of the debris deposits that dominate Boulder Clay, a glacier over 100 meters thick, located 4 km from Zucchelli station. The works that will make the airfield fully operational starting from the next Antarctic expedition will be completed in the coming months.

Thanks and credit to: https://www.enea.it/it/Stampa/comunicati/antartide-primo-volo-tecnico-sulla-nuova-pista-italiana?fbclid=IwAR3G3LwWD-FFF9J4QTMzn52mi31nCjOky9aEPBR6hsD8qVTm5oGM0xxBR4A

More videos of the C130J landing on the above ENEA website .

WAP AAW one of the most important events that connect radio amateurs and Antarctica,  has reached its twentieth edition.

After the joint venture with the Hams of  Russian Robinson Club (RRC) in the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica, WAP proposes a new friendship adventure, undertaking jointly in honor of the Italian Air Force (IAF), recognizing it the invaluable support  in the scientific missions in Antarctica. The main purpose of the A.A.W. is to increase worldwide interest around Antarctic Continent and its related  matters,  with the aim of staying close to the researchers and personnel  who are spending their time away from home and families,  studying the Antarctic life and its secrets.
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Additional purpose,  is  to share what  Nations and Organizations are doing to protect this still non contaminated corner of the world, to share WW a message of peace .

Today’s invitation, is addressed  to all Radio Amateurs (OMs & SWLs) around the World, to the Clubs and Organizations as well as other important groups and  individual operators who would like to join and share with us, this initiative.

AAW is the only event in the world where radio amateurs come together to celebrate  and improve knowledge of the Icy Continent and though it,  spread on the air a message of PEACE. 
Registration to the 20^th Antarctic Activity Week have been opened. Don’t hesitate, book in now and join  with a special Callsign in this 20^th AAW’s  event which will last from  19 through 26 February 2023.

See: http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2023/

The 2nd Conference on Antarctic Science aimed at researchers, was  organized by the National Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research and the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute.

The conference held on last  November 11, is an instance of integration and exchange between researchers who have developed or are currently developing Antarctic Science activities. The idea is to share the progress, difficulties and eventual solutions that have arisen in the course of the projects. The purpose of the meeting, is yo allow generating and consolidating research collaborations, as well as evaluating the work completed with a perspective view of activities to eventually continue.

16 developed and/or ongoing scientific projects which have the Antarctic ecosystem as a common scenario,  were presented at Instituto Geográfico Militar in Montevideo Uruguay.

 ( Picture above, shows Artigas Base WAP URY-Ø1)

With regret,  few days ago we received a news that the staff of the French DDU Base in Antarctica was hit by Covid 19. We don’t know if among them there is also our radio amateur friend David FT4YM,  who we connected and greeted just few days ago, but in any case WAP is  close in spirit to these friends of ours!

Information did come from the Official blog of the Adèlie Land District in Antarctica, relayed also by  HuffPost. Here the report:

Scientists and technical staff at the French Base Dumont d’Urville, WAP FRA-Ø1 in Antarctica (see pic aside), were infected with Covid-19 even though they had been spared the pandemic throughout the year.

The Terre-Adélie district chief, Jean-Philippe Guérin, announced on Tuesday November 8, that 20 of the 21 members of the Team of experts have been infected.

The virus is suspected to have come through a carrier present in the first plane of the season on October 25, Covid made a sensational entry into the world of the Dumont D’Urville Base. In just two short weeks, 20 out of 21 winterers contracted it in its symptomatic form. No severe form at this stage, but great fatigue, temperature, runny noses, itchy throats, coughing lungs.

Thanks and credit to: https://terreadelie-antarctique.blogspot.com/2022/11/la-ta-72-covidee.html

 

WAP wishes the whole Team the best of wishes for a speedy recovery and a quick return to normal activity to everyone.

Thanks to Olivier F6EPN, we have rebuilt the history of Marret Base which, so far,  has been forgotten by our careful searches of old and new Antarctic Bases and settlements.
The reference  WAP FRA-11 to Marret Base issued now, fills a gap in the WAP Directory.

Here we are:
After two successive wintering at the Port-Martin station, 66°49’06” South, 141°24’02” East,  WAP FRA-Ø7 , a small Base has been built on Petrels Island to a few hundred meters only to the Emperor Penguins rookerie,   and was occupied for two winters, during which time the coastal islands were explored and ground control astrofixes observed with astro-labes and theodolites.
Seven people wintered there in 1952-1953 under the direction of Mario Marret. In January 1952,  the French Antarctic Expedition , enlarged the hut on Petrel Island to serve as the new base site.
It looks like FB8YY (and maybe also FB8AX, Marret’s callsign) did operate from Marret Station on that dates, as reported on a list present on LNDX website (see: FB8YY.XLS (lesnouvellesdx.fr) TNX F6AJA

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The wooden buildings known as  “Base Marret or Cabane Marret”, 66°40’South, 140°1’ East, has been designated a Historic site or Monument (HSM 47), following a proposal by France to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
The iron cross on the north-east headland of Petrels  island, is dedicated as a memorial to André Prud’homme, head meteorologist on the third International Geophysical Year expedition, who disappeared during a blizzard on 7 January 1959; it has similarly been designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 48)

Today, the Marret building on Petrel Island, restored by the 36th French Mission, is always present and many are wintering them which made there some scrapers, evenings melted pancakes and others, on the traces of Prevost, Marret and the others…

Petrels Island  is now the site of Dumond d’Urville Station at 66°39’46” South, 140°00’05” East (WAP FRA-Ø1).

 

Summing up, this is the true story:

 

• Port Martin Station, WAP FRA-Ø7 at 66°49’06” South, 141°24’02” East was built by the 3^rdFrench expedition on January 20^th  1950, and destoyed  by fire on the night of January 23, 1952.
  see: French Port Martin Station, WAP FRA-Ø7, Antarctica – W.A.P. (waponline.it)

 

• Base Marret (aka Cabane Marret), new issued WAP FRA-11 at  66°40’12” South, 140°1’ 0” East. After the fire at Port Martin Base in January 1952, Mario Marret, the expedition leader and six men; Robert Dovers – geodesy, Jackie Duhamel – constructions, Georges Lepineux – radio, Jean Rivolier – doctor, Jean Prevost – ornithology,  Roger Vincent – mechanic,  volunteered to spend the winter on the Pointe Géologie archipelago. It is therefore this “Hut”, which has become the first Base on the island of Petrels, that the Terre Adelie 5^th Expedition wintered from January 17, 1952 through January  20, 1953 in precarious conditions.

 

• Dumond D’Urville Station (aka DDU) WAP FRA-Ø1 at 66°39’46” South, 140°00’05” East was built and opened on January 12, 1956

 

So, Marret 66°40’12” South, 140°1’ 0” East was already classified as Base before of DDU (66°39’46” South, 140°00’05” East) which was built and  opened on January 12, 1956.

 

Today:
Considering that David Brunet F4FKT-FT4YM  has given permission to operate from inside of the Old Marret Base making a consistent number of QSOs (the picture prove his presence & activity),  it becomes logical to confirm that FT4YM/P operating from a building of   Marret Base be eligible as WAP FRA-11.

Congrats to David FT4YM, to Mehdi F5PFP and to all the French Hams who did help David to reach such a good goal

 

TNX F6EPN (aka Spratley Woody) for his precious help.

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Credit and reference to:

Official blog of the Adélie Land district in Antarctica – TAAF: Marret Hut (terreadelie-antarctique.blogspot.com)

and to:

https://terreadelie-antarctique.blogspot.com/2021/05/petite-histoire-de-la-radio-hf-dumont.html?fbclid=IwAR0_e4kdW1ZqVZ-n-u3BxfX2XQzSLvIjkeRFWgrEy-fY-vEN7by6f8wM0zY