Antarctica Ahoy!

Around Scott Base

Expedition Begins

Exploration Area

Exploration Routes

Plateau Loop map

Polar Plateau

Icy Panorama

East Quartzite Range

West Quartzite Range

Upper Glacier

Glacier Route

Middle Glacier

Lower Glacier

Final Stretch

Destination

Conclusion

Diary: Introduction

Diary: Preparation

Diary: Polar Plateau

Diary: Quartzite Xmas

Diary: Into the Glacier

Diary: Home Run

Appendix: Polar Life

Appendix: Logistics

Appendix: Mapping

Thanks

 Antarctica with the exploration area marked.

Tararua Antarctic Expedition, 1962-63

Expedition Begins

Loading expedition equipment and supplies on a plane.
Loading a US Navy Dakota R4D propeller aircraft,
a DC3 modified for polar use, equipped with skis.

These aircraft ferried the expedition 640 km north
to the exploration area in Northern Victoria Land
on 4 December 1962.

Two planes carried the eight expedition members,
together with equipment and supplies for a two-month stay.

Four tents on the vast polar plateau.
Freshly arrived at the polar plateau depôt, elevation 2400 m (8000 ft).
John Millen and Gerald Holdsworth each led a 4-man team.
This account mostly concerns Gerald’s team.

Millen Range from the aircraft landing place.
The Millen Range edges the polar plateau, a view from the depôt.
At left is Toboggan Gap, an hour's fast march away,
which both teams used as a route to the glaciers,
after some weeks exploring on the plateau.

Pharoah Nunatak is an island in the polar plateau ice
Pharaoh Nunatak, southwest across the plateau,
from survey station E2, a landmark on the Millen Range.

Sphinx Peak lies to the left, Pyramid to the right.
Gerald's team visited Pyramid almost a month later,
on the return leg of their polar plateau loop.

US Navy aircraft landed on this part of the plateau.
From station E2 south towards the depôt,
10 km away across the polar plateau,
visible only in binoculars or in the surveying theodolite.

Beyond at 28 km is Mt. Watt
(named for the expedition secretary, Brenda),
the southern limit of John Millen's team's route.

Gerald records soil characteristics. Gerald surveys landmarks using the theodolite. Gerald reaches camp after a long, cold day.
Gerald makes notes on soils (left),
surveys at station E2 (center),
and returns to the depôt after a 15-hour outing,
at a temperature of -34°C (right). 5 December.

Surveying and geology took up to eight hours or more at a station,
after a stiff climb to reach the lookout.

Exploration Area
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