Counts Icefall
Encyclopedia
Counts Icefall is a steep, heavily-crevassed icefall
at the juncture of the Ford Massif
and the western end of the Bermel Escarpment
, in the Thiel Mountains
. It was surveyed by the United States Geological Survey
Thiel Mountains party, 1960–61, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
for Lieutenant Commander William D. Counts, U.S. Navy, who lost his life in the crash of a P2V Neptune aircraft soon after take-off from Wilkes Station
on November 9, 1961.
Mount Counts
is also named for William Counts, who was assigned to Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6
) at the time of the crash.
Icefall
An icefall is a portion of some glaciers characterized by rapid flow and a chaotic crevassed surface. Perhaps the most conspicuous consequence of glacier flow, icefalls occur where the glacier bed steepens and/or narrows...
at the juncture of the Ford Massif
Ford Massif
Ford Massif is a broad, snow-topped massif 15 nautical miles long and 5 nautical miles wide, forming the major topographic landmark of northern Thiel Mountains. The massif rises to 2,810 m, is essentially flat, and terminates in steep rock cliffs in all but the southern side. Named by Advisory...
and the western end of the Bermel Escarpment
Bermel Escarpment
Bermel Escarpment is a snow and rock escarpment, long, extending from the base of Ford Massif to King Peak, in the Thiel Mountains. The escarpment drops from the polar plateau to the ice surface north of these mountains. It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after Peter F....
, in the Thiel Mountains
Thiel Mountains
The Thiel Mountains are an isolated, mainly snow-capped mountain range in Antarctica which are long. The mountains are located roughly between the Horlick Mountains and the Pensacola Mountains, and extend from Moulton Escarpment on the west to Nolan Pillar on the east. Major components include...
. It was surveyed by the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
Thiel Mountains party, 1960–61, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names is an advisory committee of the United States Board on Geographic Names responsible for recommending names for features in Antarctica...
for Lieutenant Commander William D. Counts, U.S. Navy, who lost his life in the crash of a P2V Neptune aircraft soon after take-off from Wilkes Station
Wilkes Station
Wilkes Station was an Antarctic research station established 29 January 1957 by the United States as one of seven U.S. stations established for the International Geophysical Year program in Antarctica...
on November 9, 1961.
Mount Counts
Mount Counts
Mount Counts is a sharply pointed peak on the east side of Marsh Glacier marking the termination of the spur running west from Mount Rabot. It was named by the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition for Lieutenant Commander William D. Counts, U.S...
is also named for William Counts, who was assigned to Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6
VX-6
Air Development Squadron Six was a United States Navy Air Development Squadron based at McMurdo Station, Antarctica...
) at the time of the crash.