February 10, 2009
All,
News of Today (based on Emails from Olaf and Catalina and a call with Olaf and Pavel)
- At Lake E the situation was as yesterday: calm, clear weather with a temperature of -38C allowed good progress of the ice pad work.
- Problems arose with Gutov´s convoy work. The first convoy with containers, operated by a subcontractor of Gutov, stopped 60 km away from the lake and dropped the containers in the tundra. The trucks returned empty to Lake E. The reason for that is still unclear, Gutov was as yet not able to get into contact with his subcontractor. The plan now is that the second container convoy will deliver his cargo at Lake E (in 4-5 days), drive 60 km back, pick up the containers from the tundra (for this purpose Gutov will sent the crane tomorrow) and deliver them to the lake as well. Since all the tools needed to construct the platform are in the first containers, this means that construction work will probably not start earlier then 7-8 days from now. Consequently, Chris Delahunty cannot advise this work; since he has to leave the lake next week (by helicopter together with Volker and Gary). Chris is instructing people leaving in the camp so that they know what to do once the construction can start.
- Another problem, though fortunately just solved, was that Valeri, our Pevek manager, was missed on a 300 km trip from Pevek to a Polar Station. Pevek has sent a helicopter for search and rescue - I just got the info that they found him in good shape.
Cheers for now
Martin
