Soviet Mirny-Vostok Traverse

The 1983 Casey Spring Traverse established a new route from Casey Station extending westwards into Queen Mary Land to approximately 94 degrees East longitude. The western extremity of this route was approximately 1000km from Casey and joined up with an established Soviet traverse route between Mirny Station with Vostok Station.

Earlier that year Vostok Station experienced a devastating fire which destroyed the station's powerhouse and killed the powerhouse engineer. The 1983 Soviet overwintering party endured the winter with only minimal standby power. To make matters worse, in July 1983 Vostok broke its own record as the coldest place on earth with a temperature of -89.6C, the lowest temperature ever recorded on earth. In the spring of 1983 a large convoy of Kharkovchankas and other heavy over-snow vehicles departed Mirny to resupply Vostok with building materials, stores and fuel.

Prior to departing on the Spring traverse I had, by chance, established ham radio contact with Vlad Lesnichy, the radio operator at Mirny. During the out-going leg of the traverse I maintained contact with Vlad (often whilst actually travelling, as VK0FY "tractor train mobile") and finally the two traverse parties met, through sheer co-incidence, on the Soviet National Day of 7 November. Of course this was cause for much celebration!!

The meeting of the two traverse parties was noted in both Anare News (Magazine of the Australian Antarctic Division) December 1983 edition, and Aurora (ANARE Club journal) March 1984 edition.

Regrettably the effect of camera shake is visible in many of the images in this album, the result of slow film and low light conditions at the time. I have included them mainly for their historical value.

Visit the Russian Antarctic Expeditions website for more information about Russia's stations.

Links to other web pages with references to Kharkovchankas:
South Pole Station
Malyshev Plant
CAE 1955 History
Postage stamp and card
Dark Roasted Blend