Mount Duse.

Yesterday was a pretty active day for me.  I spent the morning walking round to Grytviken (the old abandoned Whaling station in King Edward Cove) and continued on up to Gull Lake. Gull Lake is accessed via a steep gravel track from Grytviken, and feeds our Hydro-plant (the Hydro-Electric power plant for the base) as well as providing a sanctuary for the Prions.  It was very peaceful up there on my own, but I learnt to be wary of the strong Katabatic winds which funnel down the valley from Mount Paget.  You can see the gust front hit the lake ahead for you, then an icy blast wraps you up and knocks your balance if your not careful. The walk there and back was about 10km after I detoured.

Part of the old whaling station at Grytviken

  

I should have spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing but we had arranged the night before for a few of us to climb Mount Duse.  I was very keen, but apprehensive, as until this point I had only scaled Portsdown Hill; and that was in a car.  Mount Duse is directly adjacent to the base, and is about 1300 feet or so, which does not make it the tallest on South Georgia, but it is very steep and the ascent is mainly Scree Rock.  Katie (fisheries scientist), Matt (electro mechanical techy), Ashley (partner in boating), Luke (fisheries scientist), Kelvin (invasive floral species controller) and myself (boatman) went up, and the more experienced climbers where great at being patient and guiding the way up through the scree strewn faces and tight, steep and rocky gullies.  The Scree can be tough, especially towards the summit, where it is loose packed and falls away underneath you as you climb.

From just below the summit

Looking South from the first plateau, with Cumberland bay and Grytviken in the foreground, and Gull Lake beyond.

My first Mountain Summit :-)

READING FESTIVAL 2010!

Well just got back from the Reading Music Festival!  Late night last night so this is going to be fairly short :-)

Reading, for anyone who is unfamilier (and I know there wont be many of you) is one of the biggest and greatest music festivals the UK has to offer, sitting on a par with the ledgendary Glastonbury according to most.  Reading has periodically hosted a music festival since 1961, and I have to say, it is showing its wisdom and experience as an event, being very well organised, with an infectious atmostphere, great music, and attended this year by some 120,000 people.

Afew beers were sunk this weekend.  Got to hit the gym next week....

Big thanks to the boys; Leon, Pearson, Nicky B, Carro and Alex for an amazing time......