Science, sweat and sledging
22nd November
We have exhausted the scientific opportunities in the Henderson Glacier and so today we packed up camp, clipped on our skis, put on our harnesses and started hauling towards the apparently spectacular Connell Canyon. We headed out of camp up a hill, then onto the flat, then up another hill to arrive at the foot of a very steep hill; at that point we put two people to each sledge and relayed to where we are camped now, about half way up.
In my sledge was all my personal kit, half a tent, a stove, a saw, 12 gallons of fuel, a laptop and a solar panel. It was a tough, sweaty (despite wind chill temperatures being about -20 deg C or lower), tiring day, particularly for my calves which are cramping every time I move my feet.
Making camp was no easy matter as all day we have been battered by winds gusting to well over 30 mph; there was a real danger of losing a tent or getting frostnip on any exposed flesh. I’m now in the tent trying to dry all my sweaty clothes before morning as any moisture will freeze when I step outside, making the start of tomorrow pretty horrible.
Tomorrow, winds allowing, we hope to make the top of the pass then lower the sledges down into Connell Canyon. Bring it on!
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Science answers
I'm going to laugh for days about the science answers!
Am reading your blogs with great interest, Phil, even though my subject is MFL!
Mark, thanks for your
Mark, thanks for your comments, most of what you suggest I will be able to sort: we do have our locations logged, Antarctica would make a great cross-curricula project, I have some lesson plans that span history, geography, art and English, I can do the global warming video clip and I have lots of photos of the camps and us playing around with equipment. The problem is that due to the satellite link I can’t send photos and video back so most of what you want I can’t get to you. I will though get you the camp GPS co-ords asap.
Further messages
Response from team:
Hi Mark,
Thanks for this sent to the team. Can you send any further emails to this address please? stevebull@bullexpeditions.com
We are just trying to cut down on sat phone time at present. Yet have sent this one on.
Also have you thought about applying for the next Fuchs Expedition?
Best Steve
Expedition Manager
Hi Phil and everyone, I'm a
Hi Phil and everyone,
I'm a secondary Science teacher very impressed by what you are all doing for school science & geography.. Hope you are taking some photographs with a view to them being useful on the Interactive Whiteboard, KS2, KS3, and KS4 ( sorry, here are a few more words you might have forgotten: targets, SATS, OFSTED.... ).
Can we please see some more shots of Teacher/Scientists and Geographers, posed in the Antarctic ( ie, wide and interesting landscape in the background) with something scientific in your hands eg thermometer, wind speed calculator, Mars Bar just entering mouth, side view of you hauling a sledge uphill (that's physics! ) etc. Also some shots of the campsite in its setting with someone in close up as well?
Couple of ideas if you get bored or stuck in tents again.
1) it would be really nice to record, if possible, the three of you having a reflective discussion about "global warming". What do you think about world "issues" from your isolated perspective?
2) The new KS3 Science curriculum allows cross-subject projects. Would Antarctica provide a suitable theme. If so, what could you cover and how would you do it. Are there any photos etc you could take that would be useful for that?
3) The US Geological survey has a copyright free, detailed topographic map of the area you are in, on the internet. Could you record GPS readings of some intermediate points on your expeditions so that pupils can add that data to maps and track your expeditions as a data handling exercise?
OK, that's enough serious stuff. I wish I could send you a set of poker dice and a few boxes of matches, amazing how much fun you can have with a simple game like that.
By the way here are some true kids science answers:
Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.
Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow.
Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.
Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.
Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.
Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.
Q: What is artificial insemination?
A: When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow.
Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.
Q: What does "varicose" mean?
A: Nearby
Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Mark Jones
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