Stampfli Drill

In 2015, community scientists identified the need for a lightweight coring drill, able to be transported by backpack. IDP researched commercially available systems and considered designing a new tool. In the end, a commercially available system called the Stampfli Drill was purchased from Icedrill.ch in Switzerland in 2016. IDP customized the order to include a winch with 100 m depth capability. To date, the deepest core retrieved with this drill is 58 m depth.

The Stampfli 2-Inch Drill is a lightweight electromechanical drill that takes a 57 mm (2-inch) diameter core. The drill system fits inside one helicopter or twin otter, and is packed in pieces that can be lifted by one person and transported up a mountain solely by a human on foot or skis. A lightweight Tentipi Safir tent for use with the system is also available. The drill can be operated with either solar panels or a gas engine.

The system was deployed in 2018 in the Yukon Territory, Canada, where it was operated by the science team to collect one firn core to 10 m depth and another to 20 m depth. In 2019, a science team successfully collected a 50 m core from the summit plateau of Mt. Hunter in Denali National Park, Alaska. In 2021, IDP performed minor maintenance on the drill system, including replacement of a circuit board in the control box, re-termination of the cable, and procurement of field tools and spare brushes for the slip ring. In 2022, a new core barrel was procured to replace a warped barrel, the winch motor was tuned, and a cutter grinding fixture was designed.

In early 2026, NASA sent a surplus partial Stampfli Drill kit to IDP. One black pelican case with a basic Stampfli drill sonde was received, but this system does not have its own winch or tower included. The sonde design also differs slightly from the other Stampfli Drill originally purchased by IDP.