The Kiwi Kings of South Georgia, Peter, Tony and Dave piloting the 3 venerable BO 105's on a freezing day:
Never was so much bait sown by so few to so many!
Friday 31 May 2013
Tuesday 28 May 2013
More Mad Ratter News. Kiwi Style!
This just in via the Wonderland Rabbit Hole and the Otago Daily Times:
"Six Kiwis, including Wanaka helicopter pilot Peter Garden, are battling the elements in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia as they kill rats in an aerial poisoning operation. As Mark Price writes, they are also keeping a wary eye on the simmering tensions between Argentina and Britain over the disputed islands.
Six New Zealanders are experiencing the ongoing tensions between Britain and Argentina in the South Atlantic but have been instructed not to talk about that.
The six, members of `Team Rat', are on the island of South Georgia, a British overseas territory 2700km from the Argentine coast and one of the islands where there was fighting 31 years ago in the Falklands war.
They have been part of a 26-strong South Georgia Heritage Trust team attempting to eradicate rats from the island.
The project's chief pilot and flight operations manager Peter Garden, of Wanaka, responded by email this week to Otago Daily Times questions about the end of this year's rat poisoning.
Asked what he was able to say about the presence of the Argentine and British navies in the vicinity of South Georgia, Mr Garden wrote: ''At the moment the issue with the Argentinian presence close to the island is still rather tense and we are required not to send emails with details of ship movements.''
That leaves uncertainty over when the rat eradication team's support vessel, the British Antarctic Survey ship RRS Ernest Shackleton, will collect the 11 members who have not left.
The other New Zealand members of the team are helicopter pilots Tony Michelle, of Hanmer Springs, and Dave McLaughlin, of Ohakune, chief engineer Mark Paulin, of Auckland but resident in Britain, Keith Springer, of Christchurch, and Nick Torr, of Te Anau.
The Falklands war, which claimed 649 Argentine lives and 255 British lives, began with the invasion of South Georgia by Argentina in 1982.
In the following 10 weeks, British forces drove the Argentinians from South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
However, earlier this year, Argentina's president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner urged Britain to end colonialism and was reported to be reacting to a British decision to name a large chunk of the Antarctic ''Queen Elizabeth Land''.
As well as the dispute over the islands, Britain and Argentina both lay claim to what is now Queen Elizabeth Land.
The Falkland Islands has a resident population of about 3000 but South Georgia normally has just a British scientific presence of about 30.
Mr Gardon said base camp for the rat eradication team, or Team Rat as it calls itself, was an old whaling station, but elsewhere on the island they lived in tent camps, coping with anything from gales, blizzards and -15degC temperatures to ''the odd relatively calm'' day with ''balmy'' temperatures of 10degC.
''We expected to experience cold conditions and all of the team members have been chosen for their ability to work in this type of weather.''
During one night last week while staying at the British Antarctic Survey base at King Edward Point, Team Rat members were roused at 5am by a tsunami warning after an earthquake off the South Sandwich Islands.
''This required us to climb up the hill behind the base in snow and -8degC, but fortunately not much wind, and wait for two hours till the all clear was given. No sign of any sea surge, though.''
Mr Garden said their biggest flying problem had been the wind - ''sudden unpredicted winds of 60 knots (110kmh) are not uncommon and moderate to severe turbulence is common''.
However, using three twin-engine Bolkow BO 105 helicopters, Team Rat has treated 580sq km - 65% of the rat habitat - as planned.
Team Rat hopes to complete the eradication in 2015.
The rats are Rattus Norvegicus (Norway or brown rats) that probably arrived with sealing parties in the early 19th century.
Mr Garden's next destination is Gough Island, off Cape Town, on the other side of the South Atlantic, where he will carry out feasibility work on a proposed mouse eradication."
Link: Otago Daily Times
"Six Kiwis, including Wanaka helicopter pilot Peter Garden, are battling the elements in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia as they kill rats in an aerial poisoning operation. As Mark Price writes, they are also keeping a wary eye on the simmering tensions between Argentina and Britain over the disputed islands.
Six New Zealanders are experiencing the ongoing tensions between Britain and Argentina in the South Atlantic but have been instructed not to talk about that.
The six, members of `Team Rat', are on the island of South Georgia, a British overseas territory 2700km from the Argentine coast and one of the islands where there was fighting 31 years ago in the Falklands war.
They have been part of a 26-strong South Georgia Heritage Trust team attempting to eradicate rats from the island.
The project's chief pilot and flight operations manager Peter Garden, of Wanaka, responded by email this week to Otago Daily Times questions about the end of this year's rat poisoning.
Asked what he was able to say about the presence of the Argentine and British navies in the vicinity of South Georgia, Mr Garden wrote: ''At the moment the issue with the Argentinian presence close to the island is still rather tense and we are required not to send emails with details of ship movements.''
That leaves uncertainty over when the rat eradication team's support vessel, the British Antarctic Survey ship RRS Ernest Shackleton, will collect the 11 members who have not left.
The other New Zealand members of the team are helicopter pilots Tony Michelle, of Hanmer Springs, and Dave McLaughlin, of Ohakune, chief engineer Mark Paulin, of Auckland but resident in Britain, Keith Springer, of Christchurch, and Nick Torr, of Te Anau.
The Falklands war, which claimed 649 Argentine lives and 255 British lives, began with the invasion of South Georgia by Argentina in 1982.
In the following 10 weeks, British forces drove the Argentinians from South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
However, earlier this year, Argentina's president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner urged Britain to end colonialism and was reported to be reacting to a British decision to name a large chunk of the Antarctic ''Queen Elizabeth Land''.
As well as the dispute over the islands, Britain and Argentina both lay claim to what is now Queen Elizabeth Land.
The Falkland Islands has a resident population of about 3000 but South Georgia normally has just a British scientific presence of about 30.
Mr Gardon said base camp for the rat eradication team, or Team Rat as it calls itself, was an old whaling station, but elsewhere on the island they lived in tent camps, coping with anything from gales, blizzards and -15degC temperatures to ''the odd relatively calm'' day with ''balmy'' temperatures of 10degC.
''We expected to experience cold conditions and all of the team members have been chosen for their ability to work in this type of weather.''
During one night last week while staying at the British Antarctic Survey base at King Edward Point, Team Rat members were roused at 5am by a tsunami warning after an earthquake off the South Sandwich Islands.
''This required us to climb up the hill behind the base in snow and -8degC, but fortunately not much wind, and wait for two hours till the all clear was given. No sign of any sea surge, though.''
Mr Garden said their biggest flying problem had been the wind - ''sudden unpredicted winds of 60 knots (110kmh) are not uncommon and moderate to severe turbulence is common''.
However, using three twin-engine Bolkow BO 105 helicopters, Team Rat has treated 580sq km - 65% of the rat habitat - as planned.
Team Rat hopes to complete the eradication in 2015.
The rats are Rattus Norvegicus (Norway or brown rats) that probably arrived with sealing parties in the early 19th century.
Mr Garden's next destination is Gough Island, off Cape Town, on the other side of the South Atlantic, where he will carry out feasibility work on a proposed mouse eradication."
Link: Otago Daily Times
Sunday 26 May 2013
Last view of the Island
My parting view as I sailed away. (sorry I didn't quite get you in the frame, Dave)
Safe journey home Guys, not long now!
Safe journey home Guys, not long now!
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Sunday 19 May 2013
2013 Tea Party Complete!
Saturday 18 May 2013
The Madness of South Georgia
(click on photos to enlarge)
Half way up:
Sitting down, at the top:
Looking the other way over Fortuna Bay to the Fortuna Glacier:
The younger "Mad Ratters" interpretation of an afternoon 'hill walking' in South Georgia:
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
"I don't much care where –"
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go.”
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
"I don't much care where –"
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go.”
Thursday 16 May 2013
Wednesday 15 May 2013
Tuesday 14 May 2013
Stop Press! Very Latest Tonight From South Georgia.
Thanks to keyboards, satellites and electrons it's possible to bring you the very latest news tonight from the Ratters:
"Husvik pretty much cleared out now, Blue Bar closed, 6 hrs of baiting to complete all baiting, Right Whale bay completed just Hope Valley and 34 pods to go and we are out of here."
Blue Bar closed!...send in the cavalry!
"Husvik pretty much cleared out now, Blue Bar closed, 6 hrs of baiting to complete all baiting, Right Whale bay completed just Hope Valley and 34 pods to go and we are out of here."
Blue Bar closed!...send in the cavalry!
.....waiting.
In solitary tents
on a lonely Isle
beneath the mist capped heights,
Hemmed in by the winds
that grip them a while
They wait in the cold, damp nights.
With apologies to Dr Marshall
on a lonely Isle
beneath the mist capped heights,
Hemmed in by the winds
that grip them a while
They wait in the cold, damp nights.
With apologies to Dr Marshall
Monday 13 May 2013
Latest News From South Georgia Front Line.
This just in yesterday, Sunday 12th, from Tony and the team:
Sunday 12 May 2013
The Language of Laphroaig
“And what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversation?”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
During the weeks at the Husvik camp the Mad Ratters resolved many operational matters and flight safety issues, during regular meetings at the 'The Blue Bar':
Entry to these meetings was strictly limited by a set of stringent Kiwi rules, posted prominently in the Blue Bar:
Click here for further Blue Bar information.
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
During the weeks at the Husvik camp the Mad Ratters resolved many operational matters and flight safety issues, during regular meetings at the 'The Blue Bar':
Entry to these meetings was strictly limited by a set of stringent Kiwi rules, posted prominently in the Blue Bar:
Click here for further Blue Bar information.
Saturday 11 May 2013
Telescope down the rabbit hole.
Now I'm back in the UK, peering through the looking glass to South Georgia to find out what my Mad Ratter chums are up to requires all the magic of Lewis Carroll's imagination.
I've left them as winter encroaches on the Island. I had a little taste of a winter storm down there in March. Life must be pretty hard now for the Ratters, all under canvas at Rosita, patiently waiting for any weather window to finish the baiting process.
They are tantalisingly close to successful completion of this years mammoth task.
Just 12 more hours of flying with the 3 aircraft will get the job done! Talk about a cliffhanger finish.
The Mad Hatter:
"Have I gone Mad?"
Alice:
"I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
I've left them as winter encroaches on the Island. I had a little taste of a winter storm down there in March. Life must be pretty hard now for the Ratters, all under canvas at Rosita, patiently waiting for any weather window to finish the baiting process.
They are tantalisingly close to successful completion of this years mammoth task.
Just 12 more hours of flying with the 3 aircraft will get the job done! Talk about a cliffhanger finish.
The Mad Hatter:
"Have I gone Mad?"
Alice:
"I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Monday 6 May 2013
Wednesday 1 May 2013
Life should be like an healthy ECG trace; full of ups and downs.
So it's the first of May and no update since the 15th of April. What's going on?
We have been having a mad ratters spree on South Georgia but unlike the poor soldiers 'way down South' in Billy Braggs "Island of No Return", we are coming home.
Only not all together.
It's been a roller-coaster ride of unexpected directions for me. On 15th April I found out I was to start the exodus from the Island, sailing from King Edward Point on the 20th April.
The ratting task was not completed. The weather was falling into winter after 10 days of a mad 'Indian Summer' in South Georgia. The bait pods of the NW zone, that we slung ashore in February, were still untapped. With 3 expert Kiwi baiting pilots and only one zone to go, I was becoming an expensive 'spare' pilot. So a berth on the good ship 'Pharos' was decreed the logical place for me.
In one way it was a relief, as having a UK orientated Flight Safety Officer on a helicopter venture in South Georgia was like using an English trained, vegetarian food inspector as health advisor to a tropical open air meat market!
South Georgia is a remote roller-coaster of an island in topography, weather and emotions.
Can the remaining Team Rat complete the task set for this year? I've heard that, so far, due bad weather only 9 of the remaining 90 bait pods have been flown and spread. Just 4 days with 3 helicopters and 7 hours of flying would complete the task. They are in the hands of the Southern weather gods.
The aircraft have been unbelievably strong. The team are stronger still but the fickle weather sprites are the strongest and that's not including the 100 mph South Georgia katabatic winds!
An amazing amount was achieved in the short weather window in April. The 3 Kiwi pilots; Peter, Dave and Tony, each flew 50 hours, low-level, hands on in just 10 days. More hours that most utility helicopter pilots in the UK would fly in 3 months.
There is still time to finish the last zone- but will the Team be thrown a window of calm opportunity? It seems unlikely; even I had to face a wintery 24 hours of 80 mph+ winds and 45 ft waves during my 6 day crossing back to the Falkands.A different sort of roller-coaster ride!
I've left behind an island that grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and showed me what remote, raw nature is like.
I've also left behind an inspired selection of Mankinds best who are still there working, trying to unravel a little of Mankinds worst rodent pollution.
I couldn't help but feel a little like a rat myself; this time crawling up the anchor chain, reversing back to the ship. I wish the remaining team the best of luck.
To all Mad Ratters and Eco warriors and roller-coaster riders of life; adieu and bon voyage!
“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
We have been having a mad ratters spree on South Georgia but unlike the poor soldiers 'way down South' in Billy Braggs "Island of No Return", we are coming home.
Only not all together.
It's been a roller-coaster ride of unexpected directions for me. On 15th April I found out I was to start the exodus from the Island, sailing from King Edward Point on the 20th April.
The ratting task was not completed. The weather was falling into winter after 10 days of a mad 'Indian Summer' in South Georgia. The bait pods of the NW zone, that we slung ashore in February, were still untapped. With 3 expert Kiwi baiting pilots and only one zone to go, I was becoming an expensive 'spare' pilot. So a berth on the good ship 'Pharos' was decreed the logical place for me.
In one way it was a relief, as having a UK orientated Flight Safety Officer on a helicopter venture in South Georgia was like using an English trained, vegetarian food inspector as health advisor to a tropical open air meat market!
South Georgia is a remote roller-coaster of an island in topography, weather and emotions.
Can the remaining Team Rat complete the task set for this year? I've heard that, so far, due bad weather only 9 of the remaining 90 bait pods have been flown and spread. Just 4 days with 3 helicopters and 7 hours of flying would complete the task. They are in the hands of the Southern weather gods.
The aircraft have been unbelievably strong. The team are stronger still but the fickle weather sprites are the strongest and that's not including the 100 mph South Georgia katabatic winds!
An amazing amount was achieved in the short weather window in April. The 3 Kiwi pilots; Peter, Dave and Tony, each flew 50 hours, low-level, hands on in just 10 days. More hours that most utility helicopter pilots in the UK would fly in 3 months.
There is still time to finish the last zone- but will the Team be thrown a window of calm opportunity? It seems unlikely; even I had to face a wintery 24 hours of 80 mph+ winds and 45 ft waves during my 6 day crossing back to the Falkands.A different sort of roller-coaster ride!
I've left behind an island that grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and showed me what remote, raw nature is like.
I've also left behind an inspired selection of Mankinds best who are still there working, trying to unravel a little of Mankinds worst rodent pollution.
I couldn't help but feel a little like a rat myself; this time crawling up the anchor chain, reversing back to the ship. I wish the remaining team the best of luck.
To all Mad Ratters and Eco warriors and roller-coaster riders of life; adieu and bon voyage!
“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
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