Small, Bryan 1984-03-08
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General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Bryan Small
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: March 08, 1984
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Joanne Burley
Length: 00:21:43
Abstract
1st trip to Antarctica 12/30 - 01/30/1983. 5 member expedition to study paleontology. Head of expedition was Dr. Chatergy (?), Dr. Hoton (?) of the Smithsonian and 2 Dr. from U of Maine. Always wanted to go to Antartica, a "mystery continent". Route to Antarctica: left from hometowns and met in LA, took flight to New Zealand via Honolulu, took Navy flight to Antarctica. First impressions: nothing but ice as far as your eye could see, some mountain peaks, desolate but beautiful. McMurtle (sp?) Base: not typical Antarctica, not as icy, ramshackle gold rush town look, large base, felt like frontier, had electricity, comforts of home. Stayed busy at base, put camp together, got ready to go out in the field. Navy cooking on base, was really good food, put on weight and lost it in the field. Going out to the field: took Huey helicopters, took 2 hours to get there. Typical day in the field: woke up around 7, Small cooked breakfast, got out to the field around 9:30. Would choose an area and fan out. Come back aroud 5 or 6:00. Eat dinner and around 8:30 would listen to Radio Moscow. Had to call in every night to let people know you were ok or they would come look for you. Never got dark, darkest looked like 4:00 in afternoon. Problems were few: no plants or dirt in your way, no roads to worry about, being on someone else's land, but everything was rock, had to hammer with chisels. Didn't have to worry about permafrost. 2nd trip to Antarctica: 12/7/83 - 01/84. Flew from LBK to Chile, boarded a US Coast Gurad icebreaker, 14 in expedition crew. Set sail for Seymour Island, Antarctica. Head- Dr. ?? from Ohio State, Dr. Turner, National Science Foundation, other Ohio State, Kent State and U of C, 3 from TTU. Looking for turtles, dinosaur materials, didn't find any. Found bird fossil, the 1st from Antarctica. Found lots of invertibrates- numerous fossilized lobsters, sea cucumbers, etc. Trip cut short, came back a week early, Coast Guard less than adequate. Coast Guard ship hit ice, had a gash, taking on water, boat badly damaged, had to set sail 1 week early. Ship couldn't handle open seas. Saw lots of wildlife: sea birds, Antarctic terns nesting on Seymour island, penguins had no fear of man. On King George Island: chin strap penguins, elephant seals. Very good trip as far as wildlife goes. Fairly uneventful except for ship sinking, but very interesting and useful.
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