Holtedahlfonna

These images the campaign in 2005 when a 125 m deep ice core was drilled at a saddle point on the ridge between Holtedahlfonna and Isachsenfonna. The ridge is called Snofjellafonna and was previously drilled in 1992 by a Japanese team.

We started out at the research center in Ny-Ålesund. This is the Norwegian station, Sverdrupstasjonen. Photo: Björn Sjögren

As usual, there was a lot of work to get the equipment out to the field site.
Photo: Björn Sjögren

Pitcing the kitchen tent.
Photo: Veijo Pohjola

The drill tent, originally designed to house a small blimp , seen from the kitchen tent.
Photo: Björn Sjögren

The camp seen from the south. The saddle-shape is obvious. To the right, the glacier flows down towards Holtedahlfonna. To the left towards Isachsenfonna. Photo: Veijo Pohjola

Erik-Jan de Jong from Utrecht was the drillmaster. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Ice core drill drill head. Photo: Veijo Pohjola

The inner barrel of the core drill. Photo: Veijo Pohjola

Ola Brandt is lifting the drill. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Carina van der Veen Photo: Björn Sjögren

To measure the surface velocity of the glacier, aluminium stakes were put in the ice and measured with a GPS. The Kovachs drill does not work very well in firn. Why an ace axe was used for increased leverage. Photo: Veijo Pohjola

Putting up a GPS base station on the nunatak south of the drill site.Photo: Veijo Pohjola

Dr Pohjola is doing some GPS-measurements. With this equipment, we had to wait for 30 minutes at each measurement. Photo: Björn Sjögren

A GPS antenna and the camp. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Björn repairing a snowmobile. This is a skill that is more or less necessary at Svalbard. Photo: Veijo Pohjola

More reparations. Here, the front suspension. Photo: Veijo Pohjola

Björns MacGyver front suspension. Photo: Veijo Pohjola

Ice core freight in bad weather. Heavy snow made the old 2-stroke Polaris Widetrak use up 50 liters of gas in 70 km. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Inside the kitchen tent. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Outside the kichen tent. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Party inside the drill tent. Carina and Elisabeth. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Erik, Ola and Veijo enjoying the party. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Logistic sponsor. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Veijo working his camera. Photo: Björn Sjögren

When we flew from Ny-Ålesund to Longyearbyen, we spotted a polar bear. Photo: Björn Sjögren

Photo: Björn Sjögren