Coldest Journey: Caterpillar D6Ns released from Antarctic snow

Much activity – from digging out the Cats and cabooses on the ice, to a cross-Channel swim by the UK HQ team – means that The Coldest Journey will soon be on the move again.

Tristam Kaye, UK-based Operations Manager for The Coldest Journey, was Guest Speaker at the Vision Awards at the Institution’s HQ at One Birdcage Walk. He recently took part in a four-man, 15.5-hour relay swim across the Channel. The Channel Arm Bandits, as they were known, have raised over £10,000 for Seeing Is Believing, donations for which passed the incredible £1 million mark on 7 September. Every pound or dollar donated is matched by the same amount from Standard Chartered Bank.

Further work towards raising awareness about the activity of the anti-blindness charity was undertaken by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Anton Bowring and trustee actress Joanna Lumley, on a short trip to Bangladesh; and they co-hosted ‘A Night to Remember’, an auction of fascinating artefacts and notable items, to gather funds for the mounting and decommissioning of the Antarctic traverse.

On the ice, the conditions – including warmth from the sun – led, earlier in September, to the team beginning the ‘big dig’. Months of snow have compacted around the two Finning Caterpillar D6Ns. But not long after the team began excavating their vehicles and equipment – wearing ‘dongles’ to record their exertion as part as ongoing scientific studies – the wind set in, which could render their efforts redundant by the next day. Undaunted, the team carried on, but ultimately the first day of digging was cut short by the predictably unpredictable weather.

Spencer’s blog provides great insight into the steps taken to dig out the dormant Cats, known affectionately as Rover and Seeker, and the pleasantly surprising responsiveness from the machines that ensued. http://www.thecoldestjourney.org/blog/from-the-ice/the-beast-is-purring-by-spencer-smirl/

By mid-September, with Seeker employed in digging out the fuel scoots and other equipment, the other vehicle had still not been started. High winds and drifting snow were not helping matters. Despite clear skies at times, the temperature is still often at -40 degrees Centigrade, and conditions are variable. Find out here: http://www.thecoldestjourney.org/blog/from-the-ice/cat-dig/  what happened when Rover was cleared after over 100 days embedded with snow. Richmond Dykes says, of the moments when the vehicles came back to life:  “I have to say that, despite being in these conditions for the first time, I had every faith that these machines would start up with no problems; but to see it with your own eyes after spending a winter down here and feeling how harsh it can be on your own body the machines have performed excellently.  I think it needs to be said that Caterpillar put every effort into the design and testing of these machines for a harsh environment, but to bring them to this extreme environment and operate as well as they have done is a credit to them.  A big ‘thank you’ to everyone at Finning for the time and effort they put into the design and modifications to the D6Ns that made our life a lot easier down here on a daily basis.”

At the time of writing, with the vehicles fired up, the fuel scoots and science cabooses have been moved and, for the first time in four months, the Ice Team members are contemplating spending the night in a new location. Their dangerous journey back North draws tantalisingly near.

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