"Those Hut Point days would prove some of the happiest of my life. Just enough to eat and keep us warm, no more – no frills or trimmings: there is many a worse and more elaborate life… the luxuries of civilization satisfy only those wants which they themselves create.” Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Allen Miller, a PolarTREC teacher on the Odin Icebreaker last season, went to visit the Discovery Hut when he was here and his journal entry is so thoughtful and well-written that I am directing you to it here.
The emotional response of seeing a place with such an incredible history behind it is almost overwhelming. Here are some of the photos from our trip there today.
Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery Hut
Scott's British National Antarctic Expedition (1901-1904) made many contributions to science and produced the first comprehensive surveys of the Ross Sea area. This hut was built in February of 1902 of Australian jarrah wood. The design, with its wide verandah, is popular in Australia for its ability to remain cool! It must have worked because there are still sheep and seal carcasses inside the hut, and another century-old seal carcass on the verandah.
Boxes left in the Scott Hut
Different expeditions have used the hut since the initial expedition. Ernest Shackleton used the hut during his Nimrod expedition of 1907-1909, and then Scott used it again during the Terra Nova expedition of 1910-1913. This is the expedition where Scott reached the South Pole but then perished with four other men on the return.
Dog Biscuits and...
People biscuits
Marcus pretending to cook us lunch on the blubber stove.
Long johns and pants from an earlier time.
We were happy to be wearing our "big reds" and the synthetic long-underwear that keeps us warm in Antarctica as we walked back to our dorms (in the background in the picture).
SCINI team returning from the hut. Can you tell who is who?
A special hello and photograph for all the FALA students is below!
Killer Whale Sculpure at McMurdo Station