Ice axe standing in snow as attendees of a two day survival course walk in formation in the distance, Antarctica, December 1984

• Main Author: Johnson, Lynn
• Format: Still Image
• Language: unknown
• Published: Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries 1984
• Subjects: Axes; Geology; Geology > Antarctica; Ice; Ice sheets; Research > Antarctica; Scientists; Antarctic; Lake Vanda; McMurdo Dry Valleys; The Antarctic; Vanda; Wright Valley; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://media.library.ohio.edu/cdm/ref/collection/lynnjohnson/id/2300

Photographed by Lynn Johnson for February 1985 LIFE magazine article, "LIFE Visits Wright Valley, Antarctica: Investigating the World's Coldest Desert," with text written by Jeff Wheelwright. Article summary from Black Star (photo agency) caption sheet “Wright Valley, Antarctica – The World’s Coldest Desert”: "Antarctica is one area of the world which encourages international scientific cooperation. For eighty years this unusual and fascinating area has served as a laboratory for scientists from many countries of the world probing Antarctica’s geological mysteries. In December 1984 a group of international scientists including Japanese , New Zealanders, Chinese, Peruvian, German and American scientists descended on Wright Valley, considered the world’s coldest desert. These biologists, geologists, ecologists and scientists of other persuasions explored the valley so as to add to the cumulative scientific knowledge about Lake Vanda and the forty mile Wright Valley. Survival training for the scientists is an absolute essential for living in this hostile environment, even in the Antarctic summer. This arid frozen wasteland requires dedicated and hardy personnel whose desire for personal comfort becomes secondary to their scientific curiosity and explorations.” Caption from caption sheet “Wright Valley, Antarctica – The World’s Coldest Desert”: "All personnel who plan to live in the field away from base camp must attend a two day survival course. Antarctica is an extremely hostile environment. Even summer temperatures dip below -10 in some areas. Travel is unpredictable when using helicopters and track vehicles and treacherous when on foot. Basic knowledge of moving personnel and material in crevasse fields, building survival shelters, and navigation are essential for scientists and military alike. The ice axe is perhaps one of the most valuable tools. Used for stability and crevasse discovery, instructors suggest the ice axe never leave the climber’s hand." Scan from duplicate slide. Text on slide mount: "©1985 ...