Yesterday one of my New Zealand colleagues, Greg Browne, gave a presentation about the early expeditions in the Ross Sea area. The first one with a ship called the Discovery went as far South as the sea ice would let it and laid anchor at what is now Hut Point peninsula. It is about 0.5 mile outside McMurdo Station and last week our janitor invited us to accompany him to the hut to take a look inside (he has access to a key). The Discovery expeditio
n in 1902-1903 was lead by british navy captain Robert Falcon Scott. Their accomplishment was that the team made it to 82 degrees South, a place no man had gone before. Later the Nimrod expedition, led by Shackleton, in 1907-1908, made it to within 180 miles of the South Pole. You probably know about the tragic story of 1911, when the Norwegian Roald Amundson, beat Scott and his men in the race for the South Pole. 
None of the 1911 team members made it home alive. Here they are at South Pole after they discovered the Norwegian flag was already there.The Discovery Hut was built in 1902 on what is now Hut Point peninsula. It is a prefab Australian outback hut, and it is actually not very suitable for Antarctic conditions. The field party stayed here for 2 winters. In the hut you can still find the fur mitten
s and the wool sweaters they wore and there is still food on the stove in the kitchen. The clothes are lying near the stove, presumably left there to dry. Boxes of food are scattered through the hut. It is interesting to see that Cocoa is in one of them; it is still a favorite drink here today! Besides a kitchen area, there is a food storage area, a meat storage area and there are stables for the ponies they used. Some seal carcases are lying near the entrance.
s and the wool sweaters they wore and there is still food on the stove in the kitchen. The clothes are lying near the stove, presumably left there to dry. Boxes of food are scattered through the hut. It is interesting to see that Cocoa is in one of them; it is still a favorite drink here today! Besides a kitchen area, there is a food storage area, a meat storage area and there are stables for the ponies they used. Some seal carcases are lying near the entrance. Several other expeditions have used this hut after the Scott party, but it is now off limits, unless you are accompanied by a hut guide (there are several on station, such as our dorm janitor). The huts are valuable part of the Antarctic exploration history and we are all trying to keep it that way. I have been in the Discovery hut twice now (the first time 10 years ago), but the second time was as good as the first.
2 comments:
Hi from New Jersey! I have been watching the NBC Anne Curry reports and was directed to your blog by Montclair's own Baristanet.com. My father, Howard Dunney spent many months/years in Antartica and also in Alaska. He was employed by ITT/FEC and his job was to outfit stations with all of the neccessities for survival, etc. Everything from food, furniture and toilet paper to music and reading material. He spent much of the 1960's at both poles and went back in 1980 with the National Science Foundation and spent his 68th birthday there on November 19th, I have many photos of him in those bright red parkas you wear. My father would be so impressed with your great work and the much improved facilities. He had a great respect for indiginous cultures and wildlife. Keep up the good work and now I too will follow your blog.
Maryellen Dunney Stadtlander
Hi from NJ! Great work you are doing there on the South Pole. My father, Howard Dunney worked for ITT and also the National Science Foundation back in the 1960's and returned to Antarctica in 1980. He actually celebrated his 68th birthday there that year.
I believe he helped to set up the base stations and equip them with everything from food, water and furnishings to music, reading material, cigarettes and booze! I have many photographs of him in the same sporty red parkas you are wearing. I know if he saw Anne Curry's ingoing piece on NBC, he would be very proud of the work you are doing and the state of the art stations (comparatively speaking). I remember his stories of attempted landings at McMurdo, only to return to New Zealand until the weather conditions improved. Thanks for your important work and hello from Montclair. I will follow your blog and bring it to the attention of my siblings. My brother Bill also worked on the RV Hero and traveled to Antarctica, but I am not sure he ever reached the Pole!
Maryellen Dunney Stadtlander
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