icehole station, since it seemed improbable that there would be 

 further break-out of fast ice. A hole five-feet square was drilled 

 and chopped in the ice. This was commenced on 22 March 1960 and was 

 dug out to a depth of 6 feet, but because of bad weather and other 

 delays, it was impossible to blow out the bottom until 2 April. 

 Meanwhile, the hole was covered with heavy canvas weighted down 

 with timbers to prevent its filling up with snow. The upper three 

 feet of the icehole was drilled, for the most part, using the 8-inch 

 Jiffy drill and the 1-foot Remington power drill. Below that depth, 

 it was found easier and quicker to chop with a Steuri pick and shovel 

 out the chips. (Plates VIII & IX). 



The icehole was lined by a heavy reinforced plywood box 4 feet 

 square and 9 feet deep which in turn was lined with thick, heavy 

 sheet metal. This was supported on the ice by two 4- by 8-inch 

 timbers bolted on to the frame. The box with sheet metal liners 

 attached was brought to the icehole unassembled because of the 

 weight and bulk. The day the box was assembled there was an early 

 cold snap and, in the afternoon, the temperature dropped to -47°F. 

 Fortunately, there was no wind, but even then, driving nails was 

 no fun. Once in the hole, the space between the liner and the ice- 

 hole sides was packed with excelsior for insulation. (Plate X). 

 On 5 April 1960, a 20- by 24-foot T-5 house was assembled over the 

 hole. This hut was assembled from pre-constructed panels and is 

 similar to a Clements hut, except that the roof, instead of being 

 flat, has a low gable. (Plates XI, XII & XIII). Later the hut was 

 tied down to the ice with cables attached to heavy deadmen rods 

 which were frozen into the ice by drilling holes and filling them 

 with water from the icehole. The T-5 hut had been built to order 

 by the Coast Guard and had a 32-foot square hole in the deck to 

 fit over the icehole. 



