Hi Everyone,
For those that are following the letter from Antarctica from Paul Smith,
here is another one.  Unfortunately, they are preparing to leave Antarctica
before the winter sets in...so Paul will soon be on his way back to Latrobe
University in Melbourne, Australia.

Please note that the letters from Paul can be downloaded by anonymous ftp
from ftp.nevada.edu in the /pub/ccsd/ANTARCTICA directory.

-Bruce Daley
chipper@redrock.nevada.edu


Date: 26 Feb 1993 14:32:44 +1000
From: PAUL R SMITH - LA TROBE UNIVERSITY
Subject: not long now
To:  chipper,@redrock.nevada.edu

Hi everyone!
   Thought I'd write you a bit of mail just say I'm still alive and
having as good a time as ever.  There are only a few more days to
go before the summer people pack up and ship out.  This time we're
leaving in two groups, one of which gets to go the scenic way round
on Icebucket (Icebird) via Mawson, Heard Is, Macquarie Is and the
other straight home on Aurora.  Not surprisingly most people wanted
to go the scenic way, even though it means a month at sea, so they
had to find "volunteers" to fill the places on Aurora.  So after I
"volunteered"..... 
But it should be an interesting trip since Aurora is the marine
science vessel with a lot of experiments on board, is bigger and
much more comfortable  (so they tell me) than Icebird which is
primarily for cargo.
Icebird should come and go in the next couple of days and Aurora
will leave about two days after that (1st-2nd March).

   The weather has been getting more overcast and windy but the big
blizz which was meant to happen on wednesday was a fizzer, a bit of
snow and that was it.  The temperature is hovering around zero and
below.  Last weekend was the last chance to go on an overnight
jolly so 14 of us went down the coast by LARC to Peterson Island. 
Most stayed there either in the apple hut (a round red hut that
looks like an apple) or camped in tents while five people went
across to stay on the Browning Penninsula which is next to the 
enormous Vandeburg Glacier.  After setting up the tents those of us
on Peterson went for a walk around the island which included
visiting a mark left by a US survey expedition back in 1947.  There
was a capsule with a visitors book, a proclamation that this island
etc was claimed by America (which it isn't anymore) and a US flag
with 48 stars on it just to show the whole thing was genuine.  We
had a quick look around and couldn't see any Americans so we
reclaimed the island for Oz and cracked open a few cans of
VB to celebrate.  A little way further round the island we met
about 40 seals all huddled together making a hell of a smell. 
Seals burb constantly and not little hiccups either but great,
long, throaty, steaming ones that you can just about feel through
the ground and the stink that accompanies it is beyond nasal
comprehension.  With 40 of them all going for it getting caught
down-wind is not a pretty thing to experience.  From there we
climbed a hill and got a great view of the island and the channel
between it and Browning.  We continued along to the opposite side
and then cut back through the middle to the camp.  All around was
snow and rock and ice, so different to anything else I've walked
through.  Also hidden in the rocks are many birds where they
shelter in cracks.

   Next day the LARCS dropped us off at Browning and we walked
across the penninsula to where the others were staying in a hut. 
More of the same, great views, curious penguins and smelly seals. 
As we headed back by LARC we cruised by the glacier which runs off
the land and onto the sea.  When bits sticking out over the water
get too heavy to support they break off and viola! Icebergs.  Great
trip to finish up on.

A couple of days later...

   On tuesday there was a party to celebrate everything that had
been done over the summer, great food, wine, port and awards
(usually for doing something outstandingly crazy, funny or silly). 
I got nominated for a couple but I'm not saying what they were. 
Thursday there was a science party and everyone on station was made
an honorary boffin, complete with a degree that
looks better than my real one.  Icebird is due in tonight (friday)
and then there'll be cargo ops all day tomorrow the first lot of
people will be off on sunday.  Aurora arrives tuesday and is
staying all of 2-3 hours. 
There's not a lot more to say really, I've had a great time as
you've all probably gathered and would highly recommend coming here
for anyone.  Now I just hope the photos come out.  I should be back
in Hobart around the 9th March where I may stay for a few days and
look at some of what goes on at the division headquarters.  I'll
see you all when I see you.
Cheers, 

Paul