Chris, they do most of it in Summer, I applied in 1986ish as a carpenter down there on the biggest build since the sites were established. I was 3 years into my 4-year builder's course at night going 3 nights a week for 4 hours a night and working full time for 6 days a week and really needed a change. I didnt get in. That's either a summer down there or a full year. Winter is flat out deadly outside. Zero building externally in winter, so it's mostly prefab and balls to the wall in summer and depending on where there are 4 bases, or 3 us Ozzies have I don't remember it still bloody cold. Saw a doco a while on the new bit at Scott base the Yanks built at the pole. Its all on jackable stilts so the snow doesn't burry it, and it's all moveable, seems they built it close to a massive crevasse unknowingly and they are hoping the crevasse doest move to close. Absolutely huge wind loads down there.
Weather where you are?
- Thread starter helicopterjim
- Start date
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Vince said:
The Australian Antarctic buildings are designed for 200kph winds. They're bloody solid buildings with massive steel frames in them bolted down to concrete foundation piers. Each pier has several 32mm rebar ground anchors that are grouted about 3m into the ground, so those buildings aren't going to move any time soon. Strongest winds I've seen were around 140kph at Mawson base. Never seen it get close to 200, so I suspect there's a bit of safety margin in the design wind speed.
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
That classic Frank Hurley photo was taken at Commonwealth Bay.
Mawson's expedition picked the worst spot in Antarctica to set up a base. According to Guinness Book of Records, it's the windiest place on earth if you measure wind by average speed. There are other places that have recorded higher gusts during cyclones, but not consistent wind. It rarely stops blowing at Commonwealth Bay, with winds regularly exceeding 240kph and an average wind speed of 80kph. Must have been a bastard of a place for Mawson's guys to build their hut. They had blizzards that lasted for weeks on end when it was too dangerous to go outside without being roped up. Rare days without wind would have seemed like bliss. Little wonder that Mawson's book was called "Home of the Blizzard".
There's a replica of Mawson's hut in Hobart that's worth a visit if you're interested in that sort of thing. They have a lot of original artefacts from Mawson's expedition on display. The equipment they used was bloody primitive compared to modern stuff. It was a feat of endurance to survive there.
Mawson's expedition picked the worst spot in Antarctica to set up a base. According to Guinness Book of Records, it's the windiest place on earth if you measure wind by average speed. There are other places that have recorded higher gusts during cyclones, but not consistent wind. It rarely stops blowing at Commonwealth Bay, with winds regularly exceeding 240kph and an average wind speed of 80kph. Must have been a bastard of a place for Mawson's guys to build their hut. They had blizzards that lasted for weeks on end when it was too dangerous to go outside without being roped up. Rare days without wind would have seemed like bliss. Little wonder that Mawson's book was called "Home of the Blizzard".
There's a replica of Mawson's hut in Hobart that's worth a visit if you're interested in that sort of thing. They have a lot of original artefacts from Mawson's expedition on display. The equipment they used was bloody primitive compared to modern stuff. It was a feat of endurance to survive there.
Legs
Hero member
- Location
- Adelaide Hills
If anybody is interested in antarctic exploration, I recommend 'The Worst Journey in the World' by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. 
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
Read a cracker on Shackleton as well. Unbelievable stuff people risking their lives down there in the eq of bloody outer space!Legs said:If anybody is interested in antarctic exploration, I recommend 'The Worst Journey in the World' by Apsley Cherry-Garrard.
helicopterjim
Hero member
- Location
- near Lone Butte, BC, Canada
The concrete set up just fine .... there was an inversion so the temperature was only -1 when we went back to finish the job yesterday.
Next surprise was when I went to set the tower on the base. They decided to mount the $150,000 worth of equipment on the tower before placing it so no room for error. All went well and now we can get photo's of the glacier!
Next surprise was when I went to set the tower on the base. They decided to mount the $150,000 worth of equipment on the tower before placing it so no room for error. All went well and now we can get photo's of the glacier!
chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
helicopterjim said:
IPhone 11 on a selfie stick would have been much easier and cheaper Jim.
helicopterjim
Hero member
- Location
- near Lone Butte, BC, Canada
chrisk said:
I reckon the iPhone would be relocated when the winds reach their normal 40+ kts.
Here's the first photo sent via satellite.
Laverda SF
Hero member
Jim: Really; is that the Rockies - Looks more like the Himalayas - Where was Pic taken ?
Wish I was 25 or 30 again on ski's - Been dropped outta Helo's on top of mountains ;o)
Time stands still - Everything is silent except for the slow methodical rotor wash that beats with your heart as you drop about 20ft into waist deep powder under a Rainbow Dome. Then you got the mountain below you with 3 or 4 nut cases you never meet from all over the world. It's understood why we are here and that is to fall off the mountain without killing ourselves. One of us is probably a Girl.
From my experience on the mountain pay no attention to that Girl as she will lead you to disaster. Some of the best skiers I've know are Women. (Virginia Cochran)
WOW Factor - Yes I was a serious skier at one time and lived for it over and above motorcycles.
Wish I was 25 or 30 again on ski's - Been dropped outta Helo's on top of mountains ;o)
Time stands still - Everything is silent except for the slow methodical rotor wash that beats with your heart as you drop about 20ft into waist deep powder under a Rainbow Dome. Then you got the mountain below you with 3 or 4 nut cases you never meet from all over the world. It's understood why we are here and that is to fall off the mountain without killing ourselves. One of us is probably a Girl.
From my experience on the mountain pay no attention to that Girl as she will lead you to disaster. Some of the best skiers I've know are Women. (Virginia Cochran)
WOW Factor - Yes I was a serious skier at one time and lived for it over and above motorcycles.
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
Stunning. Clear image and all!
Laverda SF
Hero member
Jim: Great Pic sent by satellite; whatever, technology is amazing - What Mountain is that ?
Can I find it on Google Earth - Give me the Coordinates ;o)
Jim: I sure you know what I'm referring to as the "Silent Rainbow Dome": when hovering a copter on top of a mountain.
Can I find it on Google Earth - Give me the Coordinates ;o)
Jim: I sure you know what I'm referring to as the "Silent Rainbow Dome": when hovering a copter on top of a mountain.
helicopterjim
Hero member
- Location
- near Lone Butte, BC, Canada
Laverda SF said:
N51.3722347, W125.270977
Mt. Waddington, BC ...... the peak in the background is 13,186 ft (4,019 m). In the foreground is the Plummer Hut which was built in 1969 ..... used for mountaineering. The camera site is at 9,000 ft.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mount+Waddington/@51.3722347,-125.270977,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x547c7907760bb997:0xa212f5dbc1fea55e!8m2!3d51.3722222!4d-125.2622222
Gerald
Hero member
13 deg C. here in the south-west of Germany, and dry for the first time this week. Looked at the weather forecast all week, as the 750 SF was due inspection (T?V) last month and I didn't want to wait any longer. Pulled up at the inspection place and several cages in front of me. I was summoned to move up to the front. Inspector said it may rain soon and he didn't want the bike to get wet. The SF passed with flying colors 
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Just rode through a hail storm on the way back from Baskerville race track (near Hobart in Tasmania for those not familiar). The hailstones make a racket on the helmet visor. Fortunately it only lasted about 1km, so was a evidently very local weather phenomenon. Rain had been threatening all day with a few menacing clouds and flashes of lightning in the distance. But it didn't rain seriously until the last race of the day, which was abandoned about 2 laps in because everyone was on slicks and it got too dangerous to continue. I was hoping to get home without getting wet. Alas, that wasn't to be.
BTW, it was the last round in the Tasmanian Road Racing Championship series. Fellow Laverda owner Russell (forum member 'Russ' - some of the Aussie members will know him) won the championship in his division (Historic up to 500cc). He wasn't riding a Laverda though - Honda VFR 400.
BTW, it was the last round in the Tasmanian Road Racing Championship series. Fellow Laverda owner Russell (forum member 'Russ' - some of the Aussie members will know him) won the championship in his division (Historic up to 500cc). He wasn't riding a Laverda though - Honda VFR 400.
TheWrongTrousers
Senior member
- Location
- South London
Been reading about these bush fires on the East coast in Australia. Are all you Aussies keeping safe ?
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
TheWrongTrousers said:
Bushfires in Tassie one week, snow the next. Antarctic weather pattern in SE Oz at the mo - 14 max in Melbourne today. Some cold weather for the Laverda racers at Broadford (60km north of Melbourne) this weekend!
Really unprecedented to have bushfires in these spring months.