Reports from Kohnen Station 2003/2004

During the first days of December, the Kohnen-Station resumed activity for the season. Since then, the expedition team has reached its full complement. The members are doing well under sunny skies with temperatures of minus twenty degree celsius. There were no major problems in getting used to the altitude change from sea level to 3000 m within just a few hours.

We have been drilling since December 8th from 9 am until 10 pm. Each day, we extract a 10 m ice core from almost 1600 m depth. This is an excellent start. The drill is functioning superbly. In addition to extracting cores we modify the drilling equipment according to previous plans. Presently, the primary goal is to train skilled workers. The drilling team consists of eleven women and men. An additional support crew of ten looks after ancillary technical matters and provides warm meals.

The inclination of the drill hole is between 1 degree and 1.5 degree, which is very good. The lubricating fluid, which keeps the drill hole free of ice, appears to be well adjusted to the present conditions. During the next week, we expect the traverse from the Neumayer Station.

Frank Wilhelms, 11.12.03