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Archive for category: Antarctic Blog

Raising the Roof

March 27, 2018 - Antarctic Blog, Hillary's Hut, News Story

Antarctic Heritage Trust has finished the last major job of saving Sir Edmund Hillary’s hut at Scott Base – installing a new roof.

The Trust raised nearly a million dollars to save the hut, also known as the TAE/IGY Hut, which was built by a team under Sir Ed’s leadership in 1957 just before his famous dash to the South Pole.

While working to conserve Hillary’s (TAE) Hut in 2016, the need for a weather-tight long-term roofing solution was identified.

Programme Manager Al Fastier says the Trust wanted the roofing solution to last a minimum of 35 years but more likely 50 to 100 years. A plan was then developed to overclad the historic roof, meaning the original roof remained intact.

A key feature of the newly restored hut is the painted aluminium roof, complete with new battens painted in the original bright orange.

“It gives it a real point of difference,” says Fastier, a long time visitor to the ice.

Assembling the battens for the roofAntarctic Heritage Trust

Assembling the battens for the roof

For specialist Standing Seam roofer, Mike Burgess, the conditions provided a job unlike anything he had ever tackled.

“I’ve never been that cold,” says Burgess, who had to race indoors on the odd occasion to regain feeling in his hands.

The project manager for Architectural Metalformers is used to working through complicated roofing projects in rural, commercial and urban environments – less so in the world’s harshest environment.

“The opportunity to waterproof such an important New Zealand building with our product, while endeavouring to make it visually similar to the original aesthetic could not be passed up, regardless of the weather complexities,” Burgess says.

Not one to opt out of a challenge, Burgess combined his more than 20 years in the business, with further research, to come up with the robust long term waterproof roofing solution.

The Trust acknowledges, Architectural Metalformers, Pacific Coilcoaters, Sika NZ, Nexus Foams and Dulux New Zealand for their donated products and technical assistance.

Chris Ansin, Al Fastier and Geoff Cooper taking a break on the roof of the hut.Antarctic Heritage Trust

Chris Ansin, Al Fastier and Geoff Cooper taking a break on the roof of the hut.

Antarctic Programme Manager Al Fastier working on the roofAntarctic Heritage Trust

Antarctic Programme Manager Al Fastier working on the roof

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Reflections from Antarctic Ambassador Chris Ansin

March 19, 2018 - Antarctic Blog

When I talk to people about what it is like to visit and live in Antarctica, everyone’s imagination is that Antarctica is an incredibly remote, beautiful and stunning environment.

Sir Ed's hut

Antarctic Youth Ambassador Chris Ansin working on the hut roof

While no truer words have been spoken, Antarctica has left a very different, and for me, even more special impression. It was the environment that the people created, one of collaboration, hard work, friendship and happiness. Nowhere else have I ever experienced something more powerful than being surrounded by people where everyone was living the life that made them happy.

I feel humbled to have worked alongside some of the most incredible people I have ever met. Al, Lizzie, Geoff and Diana were such an amazing team to work with. It was hard not to feel inspired just working and spending time alongside them.

Chris Ansin

Chris in Antarctica

Antarctica itself still seems such a surreal place, full of magic and wonder. Stepping into the historic huts flung striking pictures of the struggles of the men no older than myself into my mind. The vivid history of the surroundings envelopes you in emotion, it is impossible not to form a connection. To work on and help preserve the legacy of the heroic explorers that I idolise was such a rare treat and one that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Experiencing the grandest and most dramatic landscapes on the planet, I am now only beginning to realise the effect that Antarctica has had on me. I am truly excited by the possibilities of life, and feel so privileged to have experienced this amazing continent with the crew from AHT. I definitely have the Antarctic bug!

Written by Sir Peter Blake Trust Antarctic Youth Ambassador Chris Ansin

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An Antarctic Ambassador’s Awe – Diana McCormack

March 19, 2018 - Antarctic Blog

Antarctic Heritage Trust - Scott's hutDiana McCormack

Inside Scott’s Hut

Since getting back everyone has been asking me “Well, how was it?” and I keep finding myself short on adjectives.

It’s hard to sum up just how special a place Antarctica really is or the real sense of privilege I found at being able to work in the historic huts. I met lots of interesting and lovely people, went snow-caving, bounced over the sea ice in a Hagglund, camped in sight of Mt Erebus, flew over the Barne glacier in a helicopter and learned so much about the first expeditions to the Ross Sea.

Digging snow outside the hutAntarctic Heritage Trust/Diana McCormack

Digging snow outside the hut

Joining Al and Lizzie and the team for just one season, it really struck me how much work has already gone into the huts and the enormous achievement of everyone in that team over the years. Thinking about all the logistics and planning that have been behind all that fieldwork is pretty humbling. It has given me fresh positivity in tackling my own conservation challenges at home, because the historic ships can be daunting at times. We are constantly battling the elements and trying to preserve very large objects in the outdoor marine environment – but seeing what has been possible in Antarctica and getting a taste of working in those conditions has given me a new perspective.

When I get asked “What’s the most memorable thing you took away from it all?” it still takes a minute to find an answer. But if I close my eyes the first thing that comes back is walking through the door to the Terra Nova hut at Cape Evans, and the amazing smell of blubber, and straw and timber.  That’s going to stay with me for a long time!

Written by Conservation Ambassador Diana McCormack

Diana working on object in labAntarctic Heritage Trust/Lizzie Meek

Diana working on object in lab


Group of donated items from Cape EvansAntarctic Heritage Trust/Diana McCormack

Group of donated items from Cape Evans

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Cod Liver Oil

December 28, 2017 - Antarctic Blog

The team is back at Scott Base now and enjoying the relative luxuries (bathrooms, meals being served up for us, mattresses instead of roll mats).

I have been working in the lab here on some objects that need conservation before they can be placed or re-placed into their original locations in the historic huts.

Antarctic Heritage Trust - donated itemsDiana McCormack

Group of donated items from Cape Evans

Of special interest are a small group of objects that have been donated to the Trust this year. We have several cans of cocoa, a bottle of cod liver oil, a lacquered matchbox that still contains matches, and a jar of table salt. What these objects have in common is that they all came from one of the historic huts, but were removed during the 1950s and 1960s before the areas were protected by the Trust, often by people who were working or sheltering in the bases at that time. It is great to have these objects returned so that they can be put on display in their original context.

This bottle of cod liver oil is in really good condition, and that is mainly due to the fact that it is unopened and made from glass, which is a relatively stable material when compared to the metal artefacts. The bottle has also been sealed around the cork stopper with wax at some point, to make sure it doesn’t leak. Some little repairs to the label and a general clean-up were all it needed, and now it can be packed up and returned to the Terra Nova hut at Cape Evans next season.

Diana working on object in labAntarctic Heritage Trust

Diana working on object in lab

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Life of luxury

December 21, 2017 - Antarctic Blog

Much like the differences in the historic huts, compared to the cosy cabin at Cape Royds in which we were cooking dinner, Cape Evans field camp was a five star hotel. It had a heater, a gas stove, you could fit more than 2 people in there without having to squeeze, and most importantly it came with a fresh supply of survival chocolate!

Antarctic Heritage Trust - Barne GlacierChris Ansin

It was here that we encountered our first storm of the season, but like the hard explorers that built these huts, a little poor weather wasn’t going to stop us from working to restore the hut. We had to mark a trail between our camp and the hut as when the wind picks up it picks up the snow on the sea ice, and forms an impenetrable wall of drifting snow. This also happened to redeposit most of the snow that we had dug out. Back to the shovel for me.

Cape Evans sits at the base of one of the main glaciers from Mt Erebus, the Barne! What a stunning blue that ice sheet was, just dropping into the frozen sea. Later in the season when the sea ice bubbles up and forms pressure ridges seals will come out to sunbathe on the ice, unfortunately none were to be found today.

During the trip out from Scott base, we heard a shout over the radio of “THAT’S FANTASTIC” from the group travelling out to Cape Evans, and we knew that could only mean one thing, EMPERORS! Luckily they weren’t too far from our base and that night I set off to find them. Just around the corner from the cape sitting on the sea ice fast asleep were four teenage trouble makers, clearly miles from home up to no good. I wish I could take daytime naps like these guys.

Chris Ansin

Emperor penguins

I waited for them to wake up and do something, I waited until my hands had almost fallen off, and waited some more and then….. They continued to sleep and completely ignored my existence!

It was time to say goodbye to Cape Evans, it was forecast to be terrible weather and I hoped it would turn out to be true so I could spend another day out there. Alas, Hagglunds as it turns out can travel in any kind of weather and so we spent a bumpy two-hour ride in complete whiteout conditions wishing that we could see more penguins.

Written by Chris Ansin, Antarctic Heritage Trust and Sir Peter Blake Trust Antarctic Youth Ambassador.

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Life at Scott Base!

December 21, 2017 - Antarctic Blog

Adjusting back to life at Scott Base is like returning home from a long holiday. There are regular meal times, feasts would be a more accurate description.  At 7, 10, 12, 3, and 6 you are fed with mounds of food with plate sizes starting at large. There is a running joke that you have to eat more than your body weight in food as you are in Antarctica and you never know when your next meal is going to be. If you are not careful you will end up looking like the seals out on the sea ice.

Antarctic Heritage Trust - ChrisChris Ansin
Life at Scott Base is not just all about the food. As it is essentially a giant box and going outside takes a significant amount of effort, there are often activities and events to keep the spirits high. During the first week back there was a barn dance with live bagpipes and a line instructor, it was the last place that I would expect to see a bagpipe. We spent the Sunday on a field trip exploring Castle Hill where you harness up to climb to the top, quite exhausting but the views are spectacular. From the top we could see cloud rolling in across the ice shelf so we quickly turned around to get back to base.

Chris Ansin

A seal basking on the sea ice

Stuck for nine days due to several storm cycles, some of the people at Scott Base were very keen to leave. I couldn’t think of a better place to be stuck! On the bright side, the storm cycle produced some of the nicest snow Antarctica has seen for a long time. It was bizarre to see people amazed at snow in Antarctica, what I thought would be the home of snow. The snow gods had delivered nearly a foot of fresh powder, and what better way to celebrate by going out skiing cross country.

We have started work on replacing the roof on Hillary’s (TAE/IGY) Hut, and it is about time that I became a roofer. I was always told by my father to get into a trade when I was younger. Here is my chance to live that dream and see if my dad was right.

Written by Chris Ansin, Antarctic Heritage Trust and Sir Peter Blake Trust Antarctic Youth Ambassador.

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Cape Evans

December 15, 2017 - Antarctic Blog

Exhausted with desperation, in the dimming light of the Antarctic Autumn, the heroic men of the Terra Nova expedition left back at Cape Evans knew with certainty that the South Pole expedition had failed. It would be another 6 months until the first light of day gave any hope of finding the bodies and learning the terrific and terrible tale of Robert Falcon Scott.

Cape EvansChris Ansin

Cape Evans

Jars full of salt on the walls, wheels of cheese high above, and at both ends of the hut were two ovens that would have radiated lifesaving warmth. Seal fat still to this day dripping from the blubber pile and a vast array of scientific equipment throughout the hut. This expedition lived in relative comfort, yet the challenges and hardship faced by these brave men were incredibly real. The polar party never returned, meeting their fate just 11 miles from a wrongly located lifeline of food and supplies, enough to ensure a safe return home.

Inside Scott's Hut...

Inside Scott’s Hut…

To this day, the Terra Nova hut at Cape Evans stands strong, the Antarctic Heritage Trust having conserved and made the hut almost liveable for another hundred years. So strong that it was almost enveloped in snow when we arrived. Good thing that I had just had lots of experience digging snow and ice at Cape Royds. We arrived on Friday and spent Saturday digging out the snow to uncover the hut beneath. On Sunday, a trip from Scott Base arrived to explore the hut and completed what we had achieved in an entire day in a matter of minutes. They did have a shorter walk to the snow pile!Scott’s Hut at Cape Evans is magical. It portrays a life of exploration in the quintessential British way of hardship and vision. It shocks you into a reality as if you are part of the expedition. The richness of the environment and the quantity of artefacts makes you feel like you are genuinely living alongside these men, yet it is steeped with tragedy from every heroic era expedition that stepped through those doors and slept on those beds. The hairs on the back of your neck tingle as you bend down to enter, with the memories of the expedition still so present today.

Memorial Cross on Wind Vane Hill

Memorial Cross on Wind Vane Hill

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From the Terra Nova Hut at Cape Evans

December 5, 2017 - Antarctic Blog

From Cape Royds we moved on to Cape Evans, camping near the Terra Nova hut where we spent four days on the monitoring and maintenance work. There was a lot more snow at this site and the team have been very busy, excavating the snow away from the hut and exterior objects and checking the roof for snow ingress.

Antarctic Heritage Trust - Terra Nova hutDiana McCormack
Part of my job was the conservation cleaning and treatment of mould growth around the hut, and this was particularly important around the exterior walls and bunk spaces. The environmental conditions inside the hut are very cold, but in the summer temperatures can rise high enough to allow mould growth; this would be damaging to the organic artefacts like the wooden boxes and the clothing and bedding on the bunks. We have also been monitoring and recording the condition of the artefacts, which has been great because I have been able to handle some amazing objects.

Diana McCormack

Inside Scott’s Hut

My favourite thing about this hut (which is all utterly wonderful!) is the wardroom table. It sits at the centre of the living space and appears in so many iconic photographs from the Terra Nova expedition, such as the one of Scott’s birthday dinner. Looking at it closely you can see the worn and scratched surface from years of intensive use in a really crowded space; for me this brings the warmth of life into the room, much more than if everything were in pristine condition.

It is important to remember in conservation that signs of use on artefacts are a huge part of their history and telling the story of the expeditions, and the AHT have done a wonderful job of preserving these living objects.

Diana McCormack

Digging snow outside the hut

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Camping On Ice

December 1, 2017 - Antarctic Blog

Scott Base is situated on Ross Island which is connected to the mainland by the Ross Ice Shelf. Before venturing out onto the ice shelf and go exploring we had to go through Antarctic Field Training.

Antarctic Heritage TrustChris Ansin
This is as exciting as it sounds, spending the night out on the snow in a polar explorer tent, which uses the same design as the original tents used for the early Antarctic expeditions. After getting everything organised and briefing the team, we loaded up the Hagglund (an off road monster) out to our campsite to pitch the yellow triangles of tents. We were pitching our tents on the Ross Ice Shelf where the ice was approximately 300m thick. We spent the next few hours setting up camp and digging our kitchen in the most picturesque landscape imaginable. There are few places where everything in all directions is pure white, and we were being shadowed by Mt Erebus steaming away in our backyard.

Chris Ansin

Chris in Antarctica

There was not a wisp of wind in the air as we cooked dinner and had ourselves a merry feast of backcountry freeze-dried food and hot chocolate. This was camping at its finest! After dinner we went out for a Hagglund back country cruise, a short trip and a mild scramble to the top of Castle Rock to get 360o views of McMurdo Sound and the mountains. The view was simply stunning. Unfortunately, time was not on our side as it was already nearly 11pm at night and we had to get back into camp. Somehow, I lost track of time being out in the field and around 1am I went to take a nap and fell straight asleep despite the daylight. This is inside the tent at 1am with my new found roomie and friend Grant who is showing off his supreme selfie skills.

Chris Ansin

Camping Out

Travelling back, we had a short excursion on the sea ice outside Scott Base to see the Weddell seals with their pups. The seals come up in the cracks in the sea ice where the ice is pushed against the land causing pressure ridges. This provides the seals a safe place to sun bathe and raise their pups away from the dangers of the open water. The seal pups are amazingly cute and fluffy, this seal is about three days old and is still in the care of its mum.

Chris Ansin

A seal pup on the ice

Tomorrow we are traveling to Cape Royds and then to Cape Evans to camp out in the field for 8 days. We are doing the yearly maintenance on the historic huts of Shackleton and Scott. The sea ice out at Cape Royds isn’t stable enough to drive out to so we get to go in a helicopter to drop us off. I am already excited!

Written by Chris Ansin, Antarctic Heritage Trust and Sir Peter Blake Trust Antarctic Youth Ambassador.

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Visiting the Nimrod Hut at Cape Royds

November 29, 2017 - Antarctic Blog

We have now had a whole week out in the field, visiting the historic huts. Our first trip was to Cape Royds by helicopter, as the sea ice is already too unstable to travel over. We came here to complete the annual maintenance and monitoring work on the hut, starting off by digging away all the snow and ice that had built up around the hut walls over the last year.

Antarctic Heritage Trust - Nimrod hutDiana McCormack
Stepping into the hut was an amazing experience, and for me this was a very long-anticipated moment. What really struck me was that even after so much time reading the accounts of the expedition and thinking about this trip, that it was still surprising. The artefacts and the furniture in the hut really brought home the domestic aspects of what life was like for Shackleton and his team, and for me that brought them off the page and into reality.

The stove at the centre of the hut is like the beating heart of the space, and is immediately comforting, even though the temperature inside the hut was -11 Celsius when we arrived. There were so many other little joys inside, and it is difficult to pick out the most special objects, but it was amazing seeing Shackleton’s own handwriting on the walls where he had marked out each man’s bunk space with their names.

The team worked in this hut for three days, checking for snow ingress, recording the condition of the objects and doing some conservation cleaning to remove the dust and scoria deposits from the last season. It’s wonderful to contribute, even in just a few days, to conserving this amazing piece of Antarctic history. Thanks AHT!

Written by AHT Conservation Ambassador Diana McCormack

Diana McCormack

Shackleton’s Hut at Cape Royds


 

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antarcticheritage

#OnThisDay in 1872, Royal Navy Lieutenant and Chie #OnThisDay in 1872, Royal Navy Lieutenant and Chief Engineer and photographer for Scott's British National 'Discovery' Expedition, Reginald Skelton was born.

Skelton was born in Lincolnshire, and educated at Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire before joining the Royal Navy in 1887. During his time on the 'HMS Majestic' from 1899 to 1900, Skelton had risen to the position of senior engineer and served with Robert Falcon Scott. This meeting led to Skeleton's appointment to supervise the building of Scott's expedition ship 'Discovery' as ship's engineer. Once in Antarctica and particularly in the winter, Skelton assumed other duties for the good of the expedition. He became "photographer-in-chief" to the expedition and produced some of the best pictures of Antarctica obtained up to that date!

Following his time in the Antarctic, Skelton returned and served in World War 1 and rose through the service becoming Engineer Rear-Admiral in 1923, Engineer Vice-Admiral in 1928 and Engineer-in-Chief of the Fleet, Admiralty. In 1931 he was knighted and retired the following year. He died in 1956, aged 84, at his home in Aldingbourne.

#inspire #explore #discover #conserve #Antarctica #OTD

📸 Officers of the `Discovery' on the 1901-1904 British Antarctic Expedition. Reginald Skelton six from left. Alexander Turnbull Library.
#OnThisDay in 1921, the decision to go South as pa #OnThisDay in 1921, the decision to go South as part of the Shackleton-Rowett 'Quest' Expedition 1921-22 is confirmed!

Shackleton met with several men who joined him on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-17, both 'Endurance' and 'Aurora' party members; Frank Worsley, Frank Wild, Leonard Hussey, Lewis Rickinson and Joseph Stenhouse, as well as his partner John Quiller Rowett, Lee Keedick, Northrup McMillan, Percy Wallace and Laurence Legge. The men dined at the Savoy Restaurant in London, and all signed the menu, complete with drawings of penguins.

📸 Signed menu at Savoy Resturant. Copyright unknown. Sourced from @QuestChronicle

#inspire #explore #discover #conserve #Antarctica #OTD
#OnThisDay in 1956 British Antarctic explorer, nav #OnThisDay in 1956 British Antarctic explorer, naval surgeon and founder of the Public Schools Exploring Society (now British Exploring Society), George Murray Levick, died.

Levick was born in Newcastle in 1876. He studied medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital and in 1902 was commissioned in the Royal Navy. Several years later Levick was granted leave of absence to accompany Robert Falcon Scott on the British Antarctic 'Terra Nova' Expedition 1910-13 as surgeon and zoologist.

During this expedition, Levick was one of the six members of the Northern Party who built a hut and wintered at Cape Adare in 1911. The 'Terra Nova' then took the Northern Party south to complete geological work and surveys and they were dropped at Evans Cove 8 January 1912. They were supposed to be picked up a month later however because of the ice conditions the ship couldn't get to them and they spent the winter in a snow cave at Inexpressible Island, Terra Nova Bay. In the spring of 1912, the men travelled some 200 miles on meagre rations, finally reaching the safety of the hut at Cape Evans on 7 November 1912.

Earlier this year, Antarctic Heritage Trust repatriated several items to Scott's 'Terra Nova' hut at Cape Evans, including an improvised sledge distance meter which was used during their surveying work, and kept by George Levick. 

To read more about the story behind this, go to our website under Share, Latest news, Conservation: Link in bio

📸 George Murray Levick, self portrait. SPRI.

#inspire #explore #discover #conserve #Antarctica
#On this Day in 1879, polar explorer Edward Stewar #On this Day in 1879, polar explorer Edward Stewart Marshall was born in Hampstead, London. He read medicine at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and continued his studies at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, qualifying as a surgeon in 1906.

Marshall was the surgeon on Shackleton's British Antarctic 'Nimrod' Expedition 1907-1909 and also the cartographer with the shore party. He was a member of the Southern Party, which led by Shackelton, achieved the Farthest South record of latitude 88° 23' South, longitude 162° East in January 1909, in their attempt to reach the South Pole. During this journey, Marshall was instrumental in saving the lives of the party by struggling to a food depot when the rest of the party was exhausted.

After his expedition to Antarctica, Marshall went on to research nutritional deficiency diseases and had a successful military career.

He was awarded the Polar Medal and a Military Cross and is commemorated in Antarctica by the naming of the Marshall Mountains 84°37' S 164°30' E.

📸 Wild, Shackleton, Marshall and Adams upon their return from the Southern Journey (Canterbury Museum).

#explore #discover #antarctica #OTD #shackleton #endurance
The Trust welcomes several new members to our Boar The Trust welcomes several new members to our Board in 2023. Brent Clothier joins as the Royal Society Te Apārangi representative, Rex Hendry as the New Zealand Antarctic Society representative, and Aliesha Staples is appointed as a new Independent Trustee.

We are delighted that Governance Interns Mike Dawson and Georgina Archibald have joined the Board as full Independent Trustees, and we welcome two new Governance Interns, Laura Andrews and Tasman Gillies.

To find out more about our new Board members go to our website, Link in Bio under SHARE, LATEST NEWS

📸 Clockwise from top left: Aliesha Staples, Dr Brent Clothier, Mike Dawson, Tasman Gillies, Laura Andrews, Georgina Archibald, Rex Hendry © AHT

#discover #inspire #explore #conserve #antarctica
📣REMINDER: GIVEAWAY ALERT!📣 To win a copy o 📣REMINDER: GIVEAWAY ALERT!📣

To win a copy of Volume 1 of the graphic novel adaptation of 'The Worst Journey in the World' by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, worth $NZD45.00, adapted by Disney animator Sarah Airriess, simply comment that you would like to enter by midnight Sunday 28 May. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday 29 May. If you receive a reply asking you to click a link – this is not genuine. These messages are not posted by Antarctic Heritage Trust.

We are celebrating the Trust becoming the New Zealand distributor for this fantastic book. Originally published in 1922, Cherry-Garrard’s classic of travel literature chronicles the epic tragedy of Captain Scott's British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913. Now, a century later, Sarah Airriess has adapted this classic into a graphic novel series, spanning four books, spending over a decade researching the expedition to tell the story completely and faithfully. The book is not just about the exploration, but also about the personalities of the men involved and the science they undertook.

Purchase the graphic novel from the Antarctic Heritage Trust website: Link in bio

#inspire #discover #explore #conserve #antarctica #TravelLiterature #TerraNovaExpedition #GraphicNovel #TheWorstJourneyInTheWorld #Giveaway #Competition

@twirlynoodle @WorstJourneyGN @indienovella
Over the summer season, our On-Ice Conservation te Over the summer season, our On-Ice Conservation team repatriated several artefacts to Scott’s Terra Nova hut at Cape Evans, including an improvised sledge distance meter wheel once owned by George Murray Levick. Levick was the surgeon, zoologist and a photographer on Scott’s British Antarctic Expedition 1910 – 1913. He was part of the Northern Party who built a hut and wintered at Cape Adare in 1911.

To learn more about the history of this fascinating artefact, go to our website Link in bio; SHARE, LATEST NEWS, CONSERVATION

📸 A sledge distance meter wheel placed with other sledging equipment in Scott's 'Terra Nova' hut © AHT-Lizzie Meek

#discover #explore #inspire #antarctica #terranova #nimrod
📣GIVEAWAY ALERT!📣 To win a copy of Volume 1 📣GIVEAWAY ALERT!📣

To win a copy of Volume 1 of the graphic novel adaptation of 'The Worst Journey in the World' by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, worth $NZD45.00, adapted by Disney animator Sarah Airriess, simply comment that you would like to enter by midnight Sunday 28 May. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday 29 May. 

We are celebrating the Trust becoming the New Zealand distributor for this fantastic book. Originally published in 1922, Cherry-Garrard’s classic of travel literature chronicles the epic tragedy of Captain Scott's British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913. Now, a century later, Sarah Airriess has adapted this classic into a graphic novel series, spanning four books, spending over a decade researching the expedition to tell the story completely and faithfully. The book is not just about the exploration, but also about the personalities of the men involved and the science they undertook.
 
You can purchase the graphic novel from Antarctic Heritage Trust by visiting our website; link in bio.

#inspire #discover #explore #conserve #antarctica #TravelLiterature #TerraNovaExpedition #GraphicNovel #TheWorstJourneyInTheWorld #Giveaway #Competition

Indie Novella
After 36-hours of gruelling travel, Shackleton, Wo After 36-hours of gruelling travel, Shackleton, Worsley and Crean successfully arrived at Stromness Whaling Station, South Georgia #OnThisDay in 1916. The men traversed what had been regarded 'inaccessible' country by whalers.

As the men prepared breakfast on their final morning, Shackleton thought he heard the sound of a whistle from the whaling station. The three ate in silence, listening for the sound. At exactly 7 am the whistle sounded again. It was the first sound of humanity they had heard in over a year! The route towards Stromness became dramatically steep and they had to cut steps into the ice once again. Upon reaching the shore of Fortuna Bay with great difficulty, they proceeded on to what they thought was level ground, only for Crean to break straight through ice into a frozen lake up to his waist. They lay flat to distribute their weight and made their way off the fragile surface. As they approached the whaling station, in typical gentlemanly fashion, the trio attempted to make themselves presentable, in Shackleton’s words ‘for the thought there might be women at the station made us painfully conscious of our uncivilised appearance.’

"Our beards were long and our hair was matted. We were unwashed, and the garments which we had worn for nearly a year without a change were tattered and stained." - Sir Ernest Shackleton

They came across two youngsters, the first humans they had seen in nearly eighteen months, who ran away at the sight of them. The station manager, Mr Sorlle, who had entertained them when the 'Endurance’ crew had first arrived at Stromness, did not recognise them as they appeared on his doorstep. After recounting the details of their ordeal to the manager they were finally able to bathe, an experience that Worsley described as ‘worth all that we had been through to get’. Sorlle immediately arranged rescue for the men stranded at King Haakon Bay, on the other side of South Georgia.

📸 Crean, Shackleton and Worsley a few days after crossing the interior of South Georgia (Robert Burton Collection)

#explore #discover #antarctica #OTD #shackleton #endurance
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    Administration Building, International Antarctic Centre
    38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand

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    Administration Building, International Antarctic Centre
    38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand

    © Copyright 2022, Antarctic Heritage Trust – Registered Charity: CC24071
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    © Copyright 2022, Antarctic Heritage Trust
    Registered Charity: CC24071
    Terms and Conditions – Privacy Policy

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    NZAHT ExteriorSledging team outside Terra Nova hut, Herbert Ponting
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