Plane is coming; but….
The day began warm and cloudy; but visibility was fine. The flight crews were eager to pick us up, as they are scheduled to go back to the U.S. on Friday. At 9.15 AM “Skier 72″ started from Kangerlussuaq heading for NEEM camp. With them flew a representative from the National Science Foundation. His task is to survey a route for future over land traverses between Thule and Summit camp. The route runs very close to NEEM camp.
During morning, the weather improved and clouds began to thin; but temperatures continued to rise from – 8 C in the morning to – 4 C at Noon. The plane landed in camp at 1 PM. In the last hours before the landing, the whole camp was buzzing with activity. Everything should be packed down for winter. Tents were taken down and stowed. Two pallets with out-bound cargo were finished off with straps and nets and parked next to the airplane parking spot. People packed their personal luggage, and the heavy vehicles were parked on the snow. The snow mobiles were parked in a snow cave. Everybody was ready to go when the plane landed.
The plane brought cargo for next year. Two more weatherport tents, a snow blower and a bundle of bamboo flags. Our cargo was loaded and we were ready for take off at 3 PM. At this time, temperatures were risen to – 2.5 C. The skis were frozen in, and the plane couldn’t get loose. The crew had to go out with shovels four times before they succeeded in getting the plane moving. Then they tried take-off several times; but the snow was simply too heavy, and at 5 PM they gave up and packed the plane. Now we were 18 in camp. We had to unpack a lot in order to provide people with shelter, heat and food. At the same time, we had to go out with the groomer to erase all the deep ruts in the skiway made by the plane.
During the evening the last clouds dissipated and temperatures came crashing down. At mid- night it was – 21 C, and the skiway became as hard as concrete. At 3 AM everybody boarded the plane for departure at 4 AM. That night we did not sleep. As tents had been taken down, we decided to sit in the warm comfort of the kitchen tent, enjoy some food and drink and watch some films. Members of the crew paid us visits several times and they were fed and warmed.
The crew told us that the plane now had fuel for only one attempt to get airborne, if we were not successful, we would have to wait for another plane to bring us fuel. When all were seated, the engines roared, and the plane didn’t move an inch. Again the crew had to go out and dig. The ice underneath the skis was so tough however, that it had to be chiseled away with ice axes, and you’re not really at ease nor comfortable crawling and lying in the snow at – 21 C beneath a 60 ton Hercules plane, hammering away on the ice underneath the very skis that support the plane. The process took hours and inside the plane several members of the expedition sat idle and felt the cold much more keenly than during the entire expedition. To buy time we fuelled the plane with the last store of kerosene in camp.
When at last all skis were clean at 8 AM, it was discovered that an important bolt at the nose ski was broken. The landing gear was broken.
We all had to return to and reopen camp at 8 AM. Tents were set up, and people went to bed.
- Neem traverse team
Posted by neemiceblog 
Posted by neemiceblog 