January 22, 2009
All,
This time some additional infos to the mail already sent by Chico (based on calls with Olaf and Chico)
- Chico will try to send the helicopter tomorrow with the EBA pumps (if they are on the plane and get accessible in time), the pumps of the Canadian company, the ski-doo, the sled and at least 200L, if possible 400L of gasoline (the shi-doo out at the lake uses VERY much and gasoline is also needed for the pumps). Chico will try to join the flight, but its quite likely that he has to stay in Pevek because of rules that prohibit passengers to ride with gasoline.
- Volker and Gary agreed on extending their stay at the lake by 3 weeks. The reasons are
(1) They otherwise would have to leave with the helicopter tomorrow because (due to cost raises and the weekend price of the helicopter) we have not sufficient cash to cover the third flight prior to arrival of the next group
(2) They otherwise would have to leave next week with a third helicopter (in case we could get money transferred to Pevek in time, which seems not realistic), which would be almost empty in both directions, leaving them with just a few days for their ice strengthening work.
(3) They now can use the helicopter that flies the next party arriving in Pevek on Feb. 3 to Lake E to enter reach their new return flight on Feb. 24. This saves a helicopter flight and gives them a few weeks time to start ice strengthening
So, thanks to Volker and Gary for their flexibility. Rieke will try to change the flights today
- Some more "site" infos from Olaf: it´s still warm (-10 degrees C), snowing, with little wind. Ice thicknesses measured range between 1.0 and 1.1 m, snow thicknesses between 0.1 and 0.3 m. The party has started to "flag" the ice road every 250 m (4 km are done).
Cheers for now, Martin
