Brilliant write up and pics thanks Tim . . . wonder if you came across an ex work colleague who’d been there about the same time - Peter Kennet altho’ you’d have been polar opposites. . . . . See what I did there?
Brilliant write up and pics thanks Tim . . . wonder if you came across an ex work colleague who’d been there about the same time - Peter Kennet altho’ you’d have been polar opposites. . . . . See what I did there?
The only Peter Kennett I know of was a geologist who was in Antarctica during the mid 60s and was based at the old Stonnington station which was proper old school with all their field survey trips taken using dog teams, he would be in his late 70s now if that the same chap
That’s the guy - old school is right!!
A little research shows he had a mountain named after him, it's to the NE of this little trip.
Mount Kennett (67°3′S 65°10′WCoordinates: 67°3′S 65°10′W) is a distinctive snow and rock mountain, 1,360 metres (4,460 ft) high, between Quartermain Glacier and Fricker Glacier on the east side of Graham Land. Features on this coast were photographed by several American expeditions: United States Antarctic Service, 1939–41; Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, 1947–48; U.S. Navy photos, 1968. The mountain was mapped by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, 1947–48, and named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee for Peter Kennett, General Assistant with the British Antarctic Survey Larsen Ice Shelf party, 1963–64.[1]
Have you been back since?
My trip was two and a half years and I did leave Antarctica with a heavy heart, after being home for a year or so I went to the British Antarctic Survey headquarters in Cambridge with a view to returning 'down south' but after reflecting on what a unique time I'd had decided against it and to leave it alone!
During my first year one guy out of 17 on a base was killed, during my second year at the base in this report 2 out of us 13 were killed in a single crevasse accident, just after I left at a fairly nearby British base 3 guys were out travelling on the sea ice never to be seen again plus other incidences....it would be easy to suggest this influenced me in not returning but that wasn't the case.
Many years later a group of Antarctic 'veterans' chartered a boat to revisit but I couldn't bring myself to go, spending the whole winter is what the place is about for me plus the travel and of course my wonderful dog team
It's probably quite obvious I can't speak highly enough of Rupert who returned many times also working around the North Pole for some years, last time we were in touch he was telling about his work with the Australian Antarctic Division and just this morning I was prompted to root around and came across this radio interview with him.
It's 45mins long but well worth a listen and where possible he answers many of those questions people may ask of Antarctica, for me it was a joy to hear his unmistakable voice again.
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/program...f-australian-scientists-in-antarctica/7725730
- he was really quite reticent about his time there . . .
but bloody cold all the same and just so wonderful i wish i could go back but like you it wouldnt be the same
Just like so many past women eh?