Yesterday I was at the Farmhouse site, which is tucked fairly snugly (as far as any place can be called snug on Campbell) into the gently sloping southern shore of Tucker Cove. Of course the house, woolshed and store shed are long gone and only the most durable bits and the stone structures such as the old boat haul-out give any sign that this was once the centre of life on the Island.
I was painting metal preservative on the old Shacklock ‘Orion’ stove under the...
Now, I don’t like to complain ... but this past week has been more difficult than most. My energy has waned, my knees are achy and it’s been quite quite cold. My pack’s waist belt snapped and a top strap has gone as well. The deterioration of my gear, fatigue and an insatiable appetite is helping me adjust to the prospect of returning home in just over 2 weeks.
Still, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to assist Paleolimnologist Dr Krystyna Saunders...
Many year’s ago, someone said I must try to find So-and-So’s cave on Campbell Island. I can’t remember So-and-So’s name but let’s say it was Fred Blogg. His cave was said to be high up on the northern slopes of Campbell Island’s North East Harbour. Campbell Island is remote. Fred Blogg’s cave is remote on Campbell Island. The last time someone went there must have been in the 50’s or 60’s. Or so they said. And they found an old enamel...
Light, shade, colour, texture, form and continual change make the visual experience of Campbell Island. The never-ending variety of patterns, like tapestries in and out of focus, will be among my memories of this place. It’s also been rather cold over the last couple of days - but now the wind has dropped and slanting golden rays of the setting sun are washing across the foot of Mt Honey on the other side of the harbour and we can hope for a couple of days of settled weather! As an...
It’s interesting how one easily forgets feelings of dire dread. I’d tramped these island hills in all weathers; mapping and surveying historic sites on and off for over 30 years and the feeling of dread came to me then only once or twice - that I might not make it back to the warmth and comfort of the weather station. Now the station is automated, there is no staff - all cooking and heating facilities have been removed. We are actually camping inside a gutted building with the...
Leaving 9 people alone on a cold, windy and wet Subantarctic island can put strain on social relations. Some voices are louder than others. Some appetites are greater than others. And some opinions are stronger than others. Such social tensions can cause small groups to split into sadistic teams of gossip mongering loathsome ghouls. Naturally with our smiling kiwi dispositions (and beaming American and Australian ones) this fate has yet to befall our team (which has swollen to 11 after the...
-SMcM.jpg "Alex Fergus and Colin Meurk check their plant plot while Mark Crompton films, with the ever present Mt Honey looming in the background.")
-SMcM.jpg "On Mark’s return to Garden Cove he is approached by a inquisitive young male sea lion as he sits on the beach filming. While we abide the 5m rule when it comes to not disturbing the wildlife, they often choose to ignore it!")
I have climbed Mt Honey on Campbell Island many times, the last before the Bicentennial Expedition being 19 years ago in 1991. During the term of this expedition I have repeated the ascent twice and am convinced that it has either got higher or that the Earth’s gravitational field has increased locally due to some anomalous relativistic effect. Other explanations are not being entertained.
[Mark (Swamps) Crompton]
With midterm resupply we’ve had the Maia at our disposal, transportation we utilised to access Six Foot Lake. Campbell’s tea-coloured lake is located on the south side of the island where it accentuates a landscape of flaxen tones; scattered animal bones, scavenging Skuas and Giant Petrels cloak the lakeshore...
-SMcM.jpg "The Maia crew bringing in the boat (skipper Mark on the 'roof') with the Tiama in the background.")
-SMcM.jpg "Eddie who always drew the short straw to bring us ashore in the rough conditions, and who always ended up having to get his feet wet – thanks Eddie!")
-SMcM.jpg "The team enjoying the wonderfully plush interior (skipper Mark is on the right).")
-SMcM.jpg "Alex and my last day in the field. Together we have clocked up over 100km walking in waders - maybe enough for the Guinness Book!")
-SMcM.jpg "Alex and Annabel walking back from trying to get round the point in Garden Cove to get a radio line-of-sight to signal to the Maia for pickup.")
-SMcM.jpg "A quick photo shoot before the Maia pickup (Colin and Alex F didn't quite make it back in time).")
-SMcM.jpg "Expedition leader (Colin) and coordinator (Shelley) with the artists Ben and Annabel who are about to depart on the Maia.")
It is 10.30pm and I am just back from taking photos in the waning light and persistent drizzle. The base is quiet with the Maia having just left, sounding its fog horn as it lifted anchor and drifted off into the rain and mist. In a way it is like the silence that descends on a house when the kids have gone back to school, that seems all the more quiet after the fun and laughter of the school holidays (funny I should be using that simile given that I have no children of my own!). With our...
There are many things that draw people to studying and exploring nature. Just being able to experience the miracle of life in the course of your work is a great privilege – even if most of the time you are desk-bound and enveloped in the tedium of writing grant applications. Anyway, I digress. This is about those moments of personal and scientific discovery – finding something never known before. These can be grandiose theories and principles; but I get a thrill out of much...
