The old camp 2003-2010

The original camp at Cape Bounty was on a low ridge overlooking the West Lake.  We chose the site in May 2003 because it was free of snow in the spring, and the rock surface was very durable and relatively flat.   It was a good site with a great view, and it was close to most sampling locations, which is important when you are doing it every day for 6-8 weeks.  Even after seven years of foot traffic, the site looks untouched.

The problems though, started to mount as our research group grew.  Drinking water became scarce in some years in late July as the land dried up, and moving equipment to the airstrip down at the lake (on the far left of this picture) required an ATV or a lot of heavy hauling. Finally, the wind was much worse at this location than elsewhere. It all came to a head in August 2010 when the main tent was blown down the hill in a severe wind storm.  The tent, salvaged from an old mining exploration camp, was destroyed, and we decided it was time to move the camp.

This photograph was taken in June 2007 in the late evening (around midnight) from "latrine hill".  No one will miss having to slog up the hill for privacy, or to suffer in the wind when the weather was poor. Still, it was quite a view when the weather cooperated!