The dome is crowded on a Saturday (Sunday) night with a camp population of 34. We enjoyed a great dinner and celebrated the birthday of Sepp (standing) and Jan T. (sitting).

Receiving Skier, starting new activities, and celebrating Saturday night on a Sunday

Saturday afternoon weather improved and camp could receive Skier 71. The skier brought 24 new people to camp raising the camp population to 36. We said goodbye to JP, Bruno, Lydia, Ilka and Eliza. We had a German DV visit and the skier was parked at the apron for 2 hours. Due to fresh drift snow on the skiway, it was very difficult for the skier to gain speed for take-off, so nine attempts were needed to get the skier airborne and a refueling was made at Summit station on the way back. With all the new people in camp several new activities are starting up in parallel to deep drilling, processing and surface sampling. A firn gas drilling is being initiated in the clean snow area with the purpose of investigate how air bubbles are incorporated into the ice at EGRIP. A pilot hole for the Swiss RADIX fast access drill test is being drilled. Due to the flight, it was not possible to make a proper Saturday night celebration, so that was done on Sunday night instead. Nikolai, Valerie, Emilie, and Henrik prepared a great 3 course meal and there was a party.

What we did today:

1. Receiving Skier 71 Saturday evening
2. Deep drilling core length 10.82 m
3. Logging depth Saturday: 335.74 m, Sunday: 339.31 m
4. Processing depth Sunday: 233.75 m
5. Preparing for firn gas drilling satellite camp
6. Pilot hole drilling for Swiss RADIX casing
7. Water vapour, methane, aerosols, snow and boundary layer measurements
8. Disassembling pallets, distributing cargo, storing food
9. Celebrating Saturday night on a Sunday, including the birthdays of Sepp and Jan T

Weather Saturday: Overcast, snow, and drifting snow in the morning. Improving in the afternoon and clear blue sky in the evening. Temp. -6 °C to - 20 °C.  Wind: 4-18 kt (max 23 kt) from SW.

Sunday: Some clouds in the morning, clear blue sky later during the day. Temp. -11 °C to - 21 °C.  Wind: 6-12 kt from SW.

FL, Anders Svensson