SWAIS2C’s third season is underway

It’s all go for our 2025/26 season! The Antarctica New Zealand traverse arrived at Crary Ice Rise (CIR) on Friday 21 November, after a 13-day, 1100km journey across the Ross Ice Shelf. The convoy of PistenBully polar vehicles towed equipment and supplies for the season, including 27-30 tonnes of drilling and science equipment, and 3.5 tonnes of food.

The six team members are now busy building the camp and preparing a skiway in the snow so that our drill and science team can fly in on ski planes. Our drill team have arrived at Scott Base, have completed field training and kit out, and will head out to CIR when weather permits.

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Ross Shelf Reports
Hot water drilling gets underway!

Hot water drilling gets underway!

22 December 2025

The team have begun to melt a hole through the ice to make our well. 

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Ross Shelf Reports
Installing the cellar

Installing the cellar

21 December 2025

The team at Crary Ice Rise have lowered the ‘cellar’ into a 3m pit dug down into the ice.

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