 Two amateur radio DXpeditions to the island took place in 1983 using the callsigns VK0HI (the "Anaconda" expedition) and VK0JS and VK0NL (the "Cheynes II" expedition), with a further operation in January 1997 (VK0IR).The recent DXpedition in March 2016 (VK0EK) was organised by Cordell Expeditions, and made over 75,000 radio contacts.Mawson Peak atop Big Ben was first climbed on 25 January 1965 by five members of the Southern Indian Ocean Expedition to Heard Island (sometimes referred to as the "Patanela" expedition).