Station CRAK had fallen into a crevasse. This required an  immediate response to save the instruments and batteries from becoming part of the glacier for a very long time. Paul Claus flew me out in his supercub, landing on tires on bare ice. The nearest smooth patch of ice was over a mile away from the site. Paul helped me set up an ice screw anchor and pulley system to haul the heavy battery boxes out of the crack. He then had me lower him into the crevasse to attach the rope to the cases. After we pulled the cases out of the crevasse, I was surprised to find both the GPS and the Seismometer still running and recording data. Without Paul's help, we would have lost all the data, instruments and batteries into this crevasse, as on our next visit we noticed it had opened wider.  
  • Aerial view of the station. Both the GPS and Seismometer instrument and battery enclosures are in the crevasse.
  • Supercub with big tires on bare ice.
  • Landing spot.
  • We had to walk over a mile to get to the site.
  • We pulled out the GPS enclosure before I thought about taking some photos. The case that is still in the crevasse in this photo holds the seismic digitizer and recorder, plus over 100 pounds of batteries.
    • Paul thinks this is kind of funny.
    • I am smiling because I have just found out that the insturments are still running and recording.
    • A good reason to pack your battery boxes tight with foam.
    • Downloading the GPS.
    • Charge controller.
    • Charge controller.
      • Leaving the station.
        • Walking back to the airplane.
          • On the way back, we overflew some other stations. This is SMEL.
          • SMEL
          • MILR