Antarctic conservation blog archive

George, Monday 22 February 2010

Temperature: -12.5°C
Wind Speed: 10 knots
Temp with wind chill: -22°C

Waiting for the helicopter at Cape Royds © Antarctic Heritage Trust / G Whiteley

Last week our team flew out by helicopter to Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1907 hut at Cape Royd’s, and then on to Captain Scott’s ‘Terra Nova’ 1910 base at Cape Evans. Amazing! The trip allowed for an on-site handover between the summer and winter teams, and a chance to catch up with Al, Lucy, Fran and the carpenters before they jumped on a plane back to New Zealand.

Mindy at the window of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Hut, Cape Royds. Note the ‘graffiti’ made by members of the 1907 expedition on the back wall. © Antarctic Heritage Trust / G Whiteley

After working so closely with the artefacts in the Reserve Collection at Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand, it was breathtaking and inspiring to finally visit the huts themselves and see the context from which they had come. It will also help us during the winter to work out suitable conservation treatments for the artefacts so that they will fit in with the appearance and environment of the huts.

Biology lab at Captain Scott’s hut, Cape Evans © Antarctic Heritage Trust / G Whiteley

Cape Evans in particular was stunning. Although we were all naturally excited, a hush fell over the group as we entered and moved about the silent rooms. Even if we had no knowledge of the expedition stories, there would still be something truly special about the place.

There was an abundance of artefacts showing the early explorers’ day-to-day life and work, all caught in the suggestive quality of natural light and its shadows. The impression was of abandonment, of its inhabitants having only just upped and left. Only the deterioration attests to the passing of years, and also of the peculiar rigours of the environment. It has impressed on me yet further the importance of the work we are doing and the very great need to get things right.

Posted in Antarctica, Cape Evans, Cape Royds, Conservation, Royds hut, Scott, Shackleton

3 Responses to “Touch-down at the huts”

1. February 23rd, 2010 at 1:24 am
   Nick Mayo says:
   

   George. Weather sounds mild, with a wee wind bite. Wonderful photos of your visit to Royds and Evans. Glad that you could get a site visit in to put the artifacts in context. I’m sure the spirits were smiling as you walked through the huts.

2. February 25th, 2010 at 4:29 am
   Rae Bassett says:
   

   Thank you so much for the wonderful work you are doing on the preservation of the huts. It means so much to the descendents of the men who travelled to Antarctica in those early years. I look forward to your ongoing blog updates.

   The cast of the light looks beautiful in that shot of Scott’s biology lab. Is there a similar lab set-up in the Discovery Hut?

3. March 10th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
   Fiona says:
   

   Dear Rae,

   Thanks for your note re Captain Scott’s 1901 - 04 expedition base, Discovery Hut, at Hut Point.

   No, there isn’t a biology area in Discovery Hut as the explorers found it was hard to heat and warmer and more comfortable to live on the ship. The hut was used for scientific observations, drying equipment, repairs and as an entertainment venue.

   I hope this answers your question.