Right on the southern edge of McMurdo there is a hill called Observation Hill, or Ob Hill to the residents. It stands roughly 750 feet above McMurdo Sound. It's a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of town and catch some great views. It takes about 45 minutes to scramble to the summit. There is a trail leading up to the top, but it takes a while to hike it because the entire hillside is made of loose, volcanic scree.
Here I am standing on Observation Hill, McMurdo, Antarctica
Ross Island Trail system marker. The main recreation trails around McMurdo are all indicated with these markers and cairns.
The views of the mountains and town from the top of Ob Hill are outstanding. On a clear day, you can see mountains in all directions: Erebus (the world's most southerly active volcano) to the East and the Royal Society Range to the West. These are just the named mountains - there are many more in view. Off to the southeast, below Ob Hill lies Scott Base, the New Zealand research station, and beyond that the Ross Ice Shelf. At the base of the hill lies McMurdo.
Mt. Erebus and Castle rock as viewed from the top of Ob Hill. Castle Rock is the dark outcrop in the lower center.
Portion of the Royal Society Range as seen from Ob Hill
Looking down from Observation Hill onto McMurdo.
Looking out at the remnants of the Ice Runway, McMurdo Station, Antarctica
At the top of Ob Hill, there is a heavy wooden cross constructed by the ships' carpenters and erected by the rescue/discovery party to commemorate the fatal Scott Expedition. On the arms of the cross are inscribed the names of those in the fatal party and on the post is a short quote from the Alfred Tennyson poem "Ulysses", which reads "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." I tried to take photos of the inscriptions, but they are so badly weathered that they are very hard to read. This memorial was erected in January 1913 before the expedition's ship, the Terra Nova, set sail for New Zealand. Standing on top of the hill and looking out the south, it was easy to imagine Scott's men climbing it day after day and looking for any sign of the returning party.
Memorial cross dedicated to the tragic Scott expedition