We have been planning to take a field trip since maybe April this year, but then we had a spell of bad weather, then winter happened, then more bad weather. So now since the weather is improving, it seems we can finally start planning and preparing for a trip, with permission of course.
Step 1, find out who wants to go on a weekend getaway to test out the Cabooses, divide them into two groups of 4 (since the base must be manned by at least 4 people at all times), and appoint an expedition leader. Then, find out what all the requirements are that we need to adhere to, and make a list of all that needs to be packed and completed. That was the easy part…
So the 4 of us that are on the first trip agreed that since the weather is good we will do all the outside preparations first and then do the inside packing when/if the weather is sucky again. Firstly, the Caboose that we are taking along had to be fixed, and cleared out of all snow, old food, and random pieces of stuff that were lying around. That took around 2 to 3 days.
Day 4 - Next, preparing a 3000 liter diesel bowzer to take with on the trip for refuelling vehicles and refilling the mini generator if needed. All the bowzers and sledges are stored in the winter depot after takeover. A Dozer was started up and used to fetch an empty sledge and an empty mini bowzer. All easier said than done.. An hour or three later we were parked at the diesel bunkers, ready to fill up the tank. After some struggling on super slippery ice, with the refueling pipes that probably weighs as much as half a person and do not want to bend because of the cold, we decided to take the easier way out and use the thinner pipe to refuel the tank. Then came the waiting, the wind, the cold, and finally the shivering. Vince was using the Dozer to clear the snow in front of the Caboose, so we didn't even have a vehicle to jump into to hide from the wind.
Eventually we decided to stop pretending to be hardcore, and go hide in the little pump 'hut' at the top of the bunkers, which was also a good thing, since we then figured out how to make the tank fill faster. When it was about two thirds full, a leak at the bottom of the tank was noticed, and everyone went into overdrive to prevent having a major diesel spill. Using a random glove and a ratchet and strap, the leak was temporarily stopped. Now the tank that we just spent like 3 hours filling had to be emptied out again. The pump sledge used for this was still stored on the helideck, so first we had to get that, get a battery for it, start up a skidoo to tow it, and then lower it down from the helideck. Somewhere in the middle of emptying the bowzer out again, we realised that since the pump connector is probably 10cm from the bottom of the tank, and the leak is all the way at the bottom, we would need another method of draining out the last bit of diesel. So with a few empty drums and a pipe, that too was done. Although the damage report wasn’t too hectic with only a bit of contaminated snow and one frostbitten finger, it was still very discouraging to walk into the base at maybe 21:00, tired and dirty, after a full day’s work, and realise that nothing was completed, we now have more work than we would have had if we just stayed in bed...
Day 5 - The morning was spent cleaning up the contaminated snow, taking the stupid broken tank back down to the winter depot, and bringing up a different tank to be filled. With the help of this weird little contraption the boys put together, the 'dirty' snow could be melted and put into an empty drum without too much hassle. The second tank luckily didn’t have any issues, and could be placed on the now clean sledge, filled, and then finally stored in the summer depot. 22:30 and the first major task is done!
Day 6 - The weather wasn’t too awesome, but we decided to go out anyway and see if we can get one of the Challengers started and fetch the long range skidoos. So, make sure the Challenger batteries are charged, put them back in, connect everything up, notice the wiring on the alternator looks really bad and start fixing that, get kinda grumpy cause your fingers are freezing and the wind isn't helping at all, start up the Challenger and notice smoke coming out of the dashboard, disconnect all batteries again and give up on outside work for the day.
Day 7 – Sucky weather, so do some inside preparations and packing. Pack most of the snacks and sweets (and almost no nutritious food now that I think about it). Check the rescue gear, and Caboose tools and stuffs.
Day 8 - Atleast we were having better weather again, sunny with very little wind. While we went to go fetch a couple of other sledges from the winter depot, some of the boys went out to see what was up with Challenger 5. An hour or so of dozing, hooking, and driving, we had the appropriate sledges ready at their new spots in the summer depot. Back at the base, Challenger 5 was up and running again, without any smoke this time, yay. We had to take it for a test drive, so it was decided to make it a more efficient trip and drive down to the skidoos in the winter depot to see if we can get them started. After a few hours of struggling and no starting, the diesel mech decided to rather take some of the parts up to the base to clean out, and then come back another time to try again. Late for dinner, again, woops.
Day 9 – Today – back to windy and sucky weather, and expecting more storms till the 28th, so preparations are on hold till then.
Hopefully the next few tasks will go down smoother than the first ones…
