In 2018, IDP worked with Fabricon LLC in Missoula, MT, to design and fabricate a tent for use with IDP’s Blue Ice Drill. The tent was first deployed to Law Dome during the 2018-2019 Antarctic season and greatly improves IDP’s ability to continue operations during inclement weather. In 2019, PI John Higgins from Princeton University purchased a second tent of this design for use with IDP’s Foro 400 Drill at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2019-2020 season. The tent was subsequently added to IDP’s equipment inventory for use on future projects. IDP refers to the tents as the MAST (Mast Anchored, Suspended & Tensioned) Tents. The MAST Tents can currently be used with the BID and Foro 400 systems, as well as the new 700 Drill. Minor modifications to the 4-Inch Drill would make it compatible as well.
Photos
MAST drill tent at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2025-2026 field season in support of the NSF COLDEX project. Credit: IDP.
Two IDP MAST (Mast Anchored Suspended & Tensioned) tents at Summit Station, Greenland, during the 2024 field season. Credit: Jay Johnson.
The inside of the MAST drill tent during the 2022 field season at Tunu, Greenland, showing IDP engineer Elliot Moravec operating the Foro 400 Drill. Photo credit: Tanner Kuhl.
The MAST tent for the BID-Deep system at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2019/20 field season. Credit: Tanner Kuhl.
Interior view of the Blue Ice Drill MAST tent at Law Dome, Antarctica, during the 2018/19 field season. Credit: Peter Neff.