The Journey to Cape Adare

The 850km journey from Scott Base to the site of Carsten Borchgrevink’s hut at Cape Adare, is no mean feat.

By Doug Henderson, Antarctica New Zealand

In mid-October 2022 a four-person team consisting of Paddy Power, AHT General Manager Operations and Programmes, John Taylor, AHT Heritage Carpenter, Doug Henderson, Antarctica New Zealand, and Craig Cary from Waikato University, left Scott Base to travel to Cape Adare in Northern Victoria Land. The journey was to access and repair storm damage to the field camp installed in the 2018 and 2020 summer seasons, in preparation for the restoration of Carsten Borchgrevink’s historic hut.

We departed Scott Base with over 4000lbs of cargo, on a Canadian Basler fixed wing aircraft (a converted 1942 DC3). One and a half hours later we landed on the sea ice runway at Mario Zucchelli, an Italian Research Station. Due to bad weather further north and the pilots requiring a rest day, we spent two nights hosted by the Italian’s. What a harsh continent Antarctica is with red wine, pasta, and nougat. You can’t forget the fantastic Italian hospitality.

The team enroute to Cape Adare, L-R: Craig Cary, Doug Henderson, Patrick Power, and John Taylor. © Antarctica New Zealand/Doug Henderson

From Mario Zucchelli Station we again flew on the Basler to Edisto Inlet, where we landed on sea ice. On our arrival we were met by Hamish and Ash two Kiwi squirrel helicopter pilots, working for HeliSupport International. They were based at an Italian field camp called Red Castle Ridge. They were there to support field work for Geologists and a volcanologist in the Italian Antarctic programme.

We unloaded the Basler and prepared four helicopter loads, for the final 40-minute leg of our journey to Cape Adare.

We left first with critical safety, survival and personal gear, and departed for Cape Adare. The weather was great and the flight into Cape Adare was magnificent, and were dropped off safely. Two hours later the remaining helicopter loads, carrying mainly construction and repair materials arrived.

After travelling over 850 km from Scott Base, over three days we were ready for the repair work to begin at Cape Adare.