- Vostok traverse
The Vostok traverse was an epic 3000
kilometre four month trip acrossAntarctica undertaken byANARE theAustralia n National Antarctic Research Expedition in1962 . Using two bright red painted 1943World War II M29 Weasel tracked vehicles and two 1950 D4Caterpillar Inc. tractors the 6-man expedition left Wilkes Base on the coast for theRussia nVostok-1 Station (it was closed on 01.12.1957, staff and equipment were moved to then-constructingVostok Station ) deep in the Antarctic interior. Much of the journey was over previously unexplored territory. The Weasels achieved 2 miles to the gallon and the tractors one mile per gallon, so a fuel dump was requested from the AmericanMcMurdo Station .Navigating across the featureless landscape was accomplished by a lead Weasel fitted with a Pioneer
compass suspended in front of the vehicle on an aluminium frame. This was done to prevent the steel of the vehicle swamping the weak natural magnetic field close to the pole. The lead Weasel had twooblique mirrors, one in front of the driver facing upwards and the other positioned above the first and facing downwards and backwards. By keeping a bead on the following vehicles and the bamboo guide posts left at two and a half mile intervals, it was found the vehicles could keep a very straight path.When they arrived they found the Russians had evacuated the station five years beforehand in such haste that food had been left half cooked on the stove. The generators were started up and the snap-frozen steaks were finished upon which the team feasted. The trip ranks as one of
Australia 's most historic traverses.External links
*cite web| url=http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=1237| title=Steak and onions Vostok style| publisher=Australian Antarctic Division| accessdate=2008-01-26
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