Blog 5 - Walk To Hut Point

     On my first weekend here in Antarctica, and at McMurdo, I went for a little walk out to Hut Point. Now Hut Point is the place where in 1902 Captain Robert F. Scott erected a hut to survive in while they tried to make their way to the South Pole. Twenty Five men spent two winters at the hut in an attempt to reach the South Pole, which they unfortunately did not. Scott did come back ten years later, reached the pole, and then died on his way back with three other companions.

    The Hut and everything in it is an Historical Landmark. This hut, and others around Antarctica, are maintained by the Kiwis of New Zealand and actual tours of them are kept to a minimum. The huts all stand as they did when they were abandoned over 100 years ago, with all the supplies, food, gear, and whatever they left behind still there. Because there is nothing here in Antarctica like bears, mice, squirrels, whatever, and because the climate here is very dry and cold, all that is in the cabin is in pretty pristine condition, or petrified, from the surrounding conditions. The huts are so well preserved that they even have the grease or lard that fell on the floor still there!

    So my hike was a short one by myself. The hike is only about 1.4 miles roundtrip and not difficult at all. This hike is one of the only hikes you can do by yourself here at McMurdo. There are about 10 different hikes you can do here, but because of the conditions and safety, you can only do about 3 by yourself. All the other hikes you need to have at least one other person with you and you have to fill out what is called an eFoot plan before you leave. This plan has information on who's going, when leaving, when coming back, and where going. When you fill out an eFoot plan you need to come to the Fire Station Dispatch office, sign out, get a radio, and make sure everything is completed on the plan. It's a good way to keep track of people around here just in case something bad happens, like someone falls into a crevasse, that way we can get to them pretty quick.

    Anyway, I went on the Hut Point hike on Sunday, only got to look at the outside of the hut, which had a small mummified seal next to it, and then went out to the point to get a better look at McMurdo Bay. Lots of ice, and some open water on the bay, with a large ice hole containing about 5 or 6 Weddell Seals floating in it. The sun was very nice and I was able to get some good pictures. At the point there is a wooden cross there in honor of George T. Vince, the first man to lose his life in McMurdo Sound in 1902.

    After a little time at the point I headed back to town and did a little walk around to get a view of my new surroundings. You can tell that this was an old military base, the way the buildings look and the random set-up of town. I took a few pictures of town, and the Sound, so hopefully you'll get a little better idea of the area, but I will take more pictures of the buildings and the vehicles we have down here on the ice.

    Before I headed back to my room I stopped at the greenhouse to take a look around. Luckily when I arrived the greenhouse technician was there doing a little work. The greenhouse was going under some construction upgrades, so there was only one room growing some plants at the time. The greenhouse is the only place we can get some fresh vegetables from while we are down here on the ice. Plants grown are usually lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, and maybe some others. I asked to volunteer there when they need help, so hopefully I'll be able to spend some time in there this winter.

    That about did it for my first weekend. Here are a bunch of pictures I took on the hike, so hopefully it gives you a little better idea of the surroundings. Enjoy!

McMurdo Sound Edge

George Vince Cross

G.T.V Cross

Cross, Sun, and Sound

Wide, Frozen McMurdo Sound

Weddell Seals in Distance (Had some closer, with no photo)

Mt. Range across Sound

Scott Hut, Ice Pier (brown), & McMurdo Base

Mt. Discovery across Sound

Dorms and Wind Turbines