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.
Chris Ansin 
Chris Ansin Chris in Antarctica
Chris Ansin Camping Out
Chris Ansin A seal pup on the ice
Written by Chris Ansin, Antarctic Heritage Trust and Sir Peter Blake Trust Antarctic Youth Ambassador.
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.
Diana McCormack 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
Has there ever been something that has always held your curiosity, but you never thought you would be able to experience? For me this was something that always captivated me every time I would fly out of Christchurch.
From the moment I set eyes on this majestic aircraft in 2011, I have always wondered what it would be like to be inside one. Today I finally got to step onto the C17 Globemaster and it did not disappoint! More importantly, I boarded this beast to fly to ANTARCTICA!
In the late 19th century only the most driven, brave and brash explorers ventured this far south into a world of the unknown. In 1898 Carsten Borchgrevink, the leader of the British Antarctic Expedition set the sails during the ‘heroic era’ of Antarctic exploration, and built what remains as the only example left of humans’ first dwelling on a continent, at Cape Adare.
Chris Ansin Flying over Antarctica
I am travelling with the amazing people from the Antarctic Heritage Trust, a charitable organisation that has conserved the original huts of this era – including the huts of Scott, Shackleton and Sir Edmund Hillary and the thousands of items left behind. We will be working to conserve these historic buildings and artefacts to protect them for generations to come. Through these programmes the Antarctic Heritage Trust hopes to inspire the next generation with the spirit of exploration so they continue to discover the world around them.
It has been a fickle start to the summer this year with the weather playing tricks as usual. I was welcomed by Antarctica with a three-day delay as the weather had turned the week before. I am writing this as we are flying over the Pacific. It is a balmy -31oC with wind chill and I can’t wipe the smile from my face.
Before we can venture out of the base we must do a crash course on how to set up a tent in Antarctica. It sounds like this is shaping up to be a pretty good summer, camping by the beach, a bit of hard work, and great people…what more could I want?!
Stay tuned to find out how camping on the ice went, and whether jandals made the cut!
Written by Chris Ansin, Antarctic Heritage Trust and Sir Peter Blake Trust Antarctic Youth Ambassador
Chris Ansin Flying over Antarctica
Antarctic Heritage Trust Conservation Ambassador Diana McCormack shares her experience of Antarctic Field Training.
Everyone who comes here has to complete Antarctic Field Training, which means spending a night camping out on the ice and learning how to cope with the conditions outside of the base. We have just finished our training before heading into the field to work at the historic huts. Now I have been camping before, but this was camping and then some…
Diana McCormack Mt Erebus in the background during Antarctic field training.
First of all the location is pretty hard to beat, with a stunning view of Mount Erebus just outside the tent flap. The tents we used were the Scott polar type, and it’s amazing to think that the design of these tents hasn’t changed for a hundred years, but then they are pretty good tents! It was really very handy to be able to stand up in the tent to get all the extreme weather clothing on.
Testing the clothing and getting used to the cold was another factor of the training. Trying to keep track of exactly which of your 37 pockets you have stashed your gloves in is a challenge, and one I still haven’t mastered.
We built ourselves a shelter by cutting blocks out of the compacted sea ice and making a wall, which may not look like much, but made all the difference in getting us out of the wind. Without the wind chill factor we were at -10 Celsius, which surprisingly can feel really quite pleasant with a cup of tea, good company and an amazing view. Can’t wait to put all this training to use in the field next!
Diana McCormack Ice shelter – Antarctic field training.
Diana McCormack Setting up tent during Antarctic field training.
Diana McCormack Mt Erebus in the background during Antarctic field training.
Congratulations to Diana McCormack who has been selected as the Trust’s first Conservation Ambassador. This new role, which was advertised globally, sought a new conservator (within five years of graduating) to join the team in Antarctica this season.
Diana McCormack
Diana is from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and originally worked as an archaeologist before training in conservation at Durham University.  Since late 2012 she has been working as a conservator at English Heritage, the Science Museum, National Museums Scotland, and the National Museum of the Royal Navy, where she is currently employed in the Historic Ships team. Her day job involves conserving some of the world’s most famous historic ships including HMS Victory.
Working in Antarctica has been a childhood dream of Diana’s and she is excited to contribute to the conservation of Scott’s and Shackleton’s historic huts, especially since Scott is one of Diana’s heroes.
Diana McCormack and Chris Ansin as they arrive in Antarctica
Hello! Welcome to the adventures of the 2017 Sir Peter Blake Antarctic Youth Ambassador! My name is Chris Ansin and I am absolutely ecstatic about joining the team going to Antarctica this year, something which I have been dreaming of since I was a kid.
Chris & Diana
Antarctica? How does one even get to go to Antarctica? Thankfully for me, through The Sir Peter Blake Trust, an incredible youth Blake Ambassador programme to encourage young people to explore and bring awareness of the world that we live in. The Trust partners with organisations such as Antarctic Heritage Trust, Antarctica New Zealand, Department of Conservation, and NIWA, to give once in a lifetime opportunities to young people wanting to learn more and experience our environment. I cannot thank The Sir Peter Blake Trust, Antarctic Heritage Trust and Antarctica New Zealand enough for this amazing experience and the generosity and support they have all shown me.
Here is a short and sweet background to who I am and how I came to be here. I am a 25 year old process engineer who grew up in the deep south of Dunedin, a city based off Edinburgh with a personality to match. I studied in Christchurch and have spent the last two years in New Plymouth before moving to Auckland to explore the winterless north.
I have spent the past few days being inducted into Antarctic life- learning about the immense history of the historic huts and meeting the great team that I will be working with.  This includes Diana (pictured above) as the conservation ambassador, and Antarctic Heritage Trust staff Lizzie Meek (Programme Manager – Artefacts), and Al Fastier (Programme Manager). We spent two hours fitting out our clothes! If puffer jackets got their name from being puffy, then these things should be called mellow puffs, they are seriously warm!
I am several nights away from flying and already I cannot sleep thinking about this trip! If my job description is anything to go by then I will have my work cut out for me. I can’t wait to share my journey, and I hope you enjoy coming with me on this life-changing experience.
Written by Chris Ansin, Antarctic Heritage Trust and Sir Peter Blake Trust Antarctic Youth Ambassador
Antarctic Heritage Trust Diana and Chris on the plane down to Antarctica!
We are delighted to officially release this short film ‘Mt Scott – An Expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula’ made by Inspiring Explorer Simon Lucas.
Inspiring Explorers aims to connect young people with Antarctica’s history and the spirit of exploration. Simon’s film shares the story of four young Kiwi explorers who travel to Antarctica to attempt a guided ascent of Mt Scott – named for early polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott. Simon, along with William Pike, Sylvie Admore and Isobel Ewing all faced their own challenges in their quest to reach the summit. The team travelled with partner One Ocean Expeditions.
Simon Lucas has a Science degree (Zoology) and a Post-graduate diploma in Wildlife Management from the University of Otago. He was part of a team that made a 1500km canoe trip through the Canadian and Alaskan wilderness, which resulted in an award-winning documentary ‘Paddle for the North’. This short film won five international awards and was a part of three international film tours. Simon has skills in shooting film, editing and promotion, especially in the digital space. He is experienced in the alpine environment with hunting and hiking and is a qualified dive master. Simon has travelled extensively through Europe, North America and South America and recently returned from a trip to the Zambesi River in Africa on which he is making a documentary about the threats it faces.
Antarctic Heritage Trust
7 Ron Guthrey Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Private Bag 4745, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Antarctic Heritage Trust
7 Ron Guthrey Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Private Bag 4745, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand