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Suze | profile | all galleries >> Dry Valleys: Wright Valley and Olympus Range >> Labrinyth and Airdevronsix Icefall tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Mt Electra | Labrinyth and Airdevronsix Icefall | Don Juan Pond and Lake Vanda

Labrinyth and Airdevronsix Icefall

This area defines the upper end of the Wright Valley. It is the most spectacular example of how the Transantactic Mountains hold back the East Antarctic Plateau ice and of how the dramatically ice spills over into the upper Dry Valleys. The Upper Wright Glacier is interesting because of it's smooth, flat-top, rounded shape as it fills the giant cirque. The ice is worn smooth by the katabatic (heavy because of such cold air off the continent) winds that plummet off the plateau as dramatically as the icefalls.
The Labrinyth, a maze of large (every thing in Antarctica is large) channels, might have been formed by the outwash flood from an ancient subglacial lake.
The Airdevronsix Icefall was named after some military aviation group that supported the US Antarctic Program back in the early years of the fifties and sixties (if anyone has more info, let me know!). As I recall from a map, this icefall is something like ten miles across.
Airdevronsix Ice Fall and Upper Wright Glacier.JPG
Airdevronsix Ice Fall and Upper Wright Glacier.JPG
Upp. Wright Glacier part of Labrinyth Airdevronsix Icefall.JPG
Upp. Wright Glacier part of Labrinyth Airdevronsix Icefall.JPG
Partial view of Labrinyth Wright Valley.JPG
Partial view of Labrinyth Wright Valley.JPG
Labrinyth Wright Valley and part of Asgard Range Dry Valleys .JPG
Labrinyth Wright Valley and part of Asgard Range Dry Valleys .JPG
Later season flight showing new snow on glacier and Labrinyth.jpg
Later season flight showing new snow on glacier and Labrinyth.jpg
Wright Valley below Labrinyth back L=Lake Vanda.JPG
Wright Valley below Labrinyth back L=Lake Vanda.JPG
Veiw of icefall from base of Electra.JPG
Veiw of icefall from base of Electra.JPG
Simon and S heading down from Electra base toward Labrinyth.JPG
Simon and S heading down from Electra base toward Labrinyth.JPG
Airdevronsix Icefall and Upp. Wright Gl.JPG
Airdevronsix Icefall and Upp. Wright Gl.JPG
Simon and S heading into Labrinyth.JPG
Simon and S heading into Labrinyth.JPG
One of many frozen freshwater ponds.JPG
One of many frozen freshwater ponds.JPG
Up and down through the Labrinyth.JPG
Up and down through the Labrinyth.JPG
Hiking in the LabrinythJPG
Hiking in the LabrinythJPG