Inspiring Explorers' Antarctic Expedition

Home , Carsten Borchgrevink, Edmund Hillary, Portal Point

ExplorerTHE APRIL 2019

The Inspiring Explorers before camping out overnight on the ice. © AHT/Alexander Hillary Inspiring Explorers’ Antarctic Expedition

“Perception shattering” was the comment assisted with sponsorship from the Woolf The ice was breath-taking,” said Rosanna. about Antarctica that came in unison from Fisher Trust. “I didn’t expect the magnitude of it, and how this year’s team of Inspiring Explorers. The amazing the icebergs look, how blue they Trust Executive Director Nigel Watson ten-member team recently returned from a are. I wasn’t expecting the colours I saw.” led the trip, with Olympian kayaker Mike two-week trip to the Antarctic Peninsula as Dawson joining as a kayaking mentor. “The sheer scale of everything, and trying participants in the Trust’s fourth Inspiring Supported by One Ocean Expeditions and to find ways to articulate it so that you can Explorers’ Expedition. travelling on their ship Akademik Ioffe, the share it in a meaningful way with others Whether it was the environment, wildlife or group explored the Antarctic Peninsula in – I’m still working through that,” says history, all the explorers agreed Antarctica kayaks and on foot. Georgina. “The immensity of everything is was nothing like they anticipated. It was definitely difficult to describe.” The trip offered young people a chance much, much more. to challenge themselves, to connect with While it was an action-packed two weeks Antarctic Heritage Trust selected five young experts, and learn about the history, with incredible weather conditions that explorers for the expedition: accomplished science, wildlife, environment and legacy of favoured every adventure they planned, a photographer Alexander Hillary (Sir exploration in Antarctica. Connecting with highlight for the group was the opportunity Edmund Hillary’s grandson); living kidney the spirit of exploration in the world’s most to camp overnight on the ice. While donor and freelance camera operator extreme environment and learning more everyone was excited when told about it, Leah Stewart; Wellington communications about the legacy the Trust’s cares for on Georgina said, “When they started handing specialist and mum Rosanna Price; behalf of the international community, were out the spade so we could dig out our beds, Christchurch learning advisor Georgina key priorities for the expedition. we just didn’t know what to expect.” Archibald; and photographer and sound Ahead of the trip, Nigel said Antarctica The team was dropped on Portal Point at specialist Marco de Kretser. Two students had the power to change lives and that Charlotte Bay with directions to head up Lana Kiddie-Vai and Mele Fetu'u, and a the members of the group would come the hill, find a good spot and dig a hole in teacher, Caragh Doherty, from Sir Edmund back committed to sharing their story and the snow. Once the holes were dug and the Hillary Collegiate (SEHC) were able to join inspiring others to go out and explore. bivvy bags in place, everyone jumped in the group thanks to a partnership initiative their space, zipped up and settled in for between the Trust and the Collegiate, It’s a sentiment that everyone echoed. the night.

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“I learnt I can go anywhere and do anything,” said Caragh. “I learnt never to underestimate my own ability and my place in the world.”

Caragh says the first thing she did on her return was to buy a tent so that she could take her family to explore the remote parts of New Zealand, and not to stick to the tourist spots. “I learnt that you shouldn’t settle for what’s in front of you, whether it’s your lounge, your local park or your school. Get out there and push your boundaries. Georgina and Lana celebrate a successful kayaking excursion. © AHT/Alexander Hillary Explore.”

Georgina says nothing could have prepared kind of expedition he would have cherished Mele was keen to “Try and get people I her for the night show that followed. “There as well.” know to be more environmentally aware were just these most phenomenal views and try and get them to be more aware of The team also spent time at Port Lockroy. of the galaxy laid out above us. There was how important Antarctica is.” Designated an Antarctic Historic Site and the Milky Way in sharp detail, punctured Monument in 1995, Port Lockroy has done Alongside the Inspiring Explorers’ team, by shooting stars, and satellites. It was duty over the last 100 years as a whaling four people joined the Trust’s first Inspiring unreal. It was one of the best nights ever station, British WWII base, scientific Explorers Official Supporter’s programme. – watching the sky, breathing in the cold research station, and now a visitor’s centre, polar air, it was definitely a highlight For Denise Flanagan (Honorary Vice Consul the first major Antarctic Peninsula building for me.” - Consulate General of Ireland) it was restoration that now also features a post also the trip of a lifetime. She says, “I look “Can you believe it,” marvelled Lana. “I even office. “I did send myself a postcard,” laughs forward to hearing the future path taken got to see the sun rise because I couldn’t go Leah, “but I won’t get it until November.” by the young explorers as I’m sure they to sleep.” The site is cared for by UK Antarctic returned from the trip with the realisation Heritage Trust. Trust staff Programme Each explorer has brought home other that there is a world of opportunity waiting Manager Al Fastier assisted with this past enduring memories of their trip. For Marco for them if they just set their mind to it.” season’s conservation work under the a close encounter with a leopard seal that UKAHT/AHT partnership agreement. This was the fourth Inspiring Explorers’ played around the zodiac was a highlight. Expedition, following the crossing of the “It came right up to me, looking me in the The explorers will now focus on Greenland ice cap in 2018, the summiting of eye and giving me some freaky smiles.” sharing their journey through outreach Mt Scott in 2017, and the crossing of South programmes supported by the Trust. It is A decision by three of the group to kayak Georgia Island in 2015. the part of the expedition that Nigel says is around Cuverville Island while others chose the most important. With thanks to partner One Ocean a shore or ship-based activity brought its Expeditions, Woolf Fisher Trust, Hillary own reward for Alexander, Leah and Mike. “The reason we take young people on House Leadership Centre and Staples VR. “We had an extremely close encounter with these expeditions is so they can encourage humpback whales,” says Leah. “We saw a others to get out and explore the world. It’s View photos and read the blog at whale in the distance and decided to sit and by sharing their stories and how they have inspiringexplorers.com watch it. Suddenly a group of about eight whales was all around us. For about half an hour they played around us, coming right up to the kayaks so we could see their eyes and teeth. It was amazing.”

Mike agreed saying, “To have just your little yellow kayak between you and something so big, so raw and so much part of Antarctica was spectacular. I’ve kayaked all over the world, but this was a different experience for me.”

Sir Edmund Hillary’s grandson Alexander said, “I felt quite privileged to be standing in the same place as earlier adventurers, such as Ed. It’s a funny feeling because I felt very much like our team was our own adventure but it was nice to think that this was somewhere that Ed cherished and it’s a Alexander Hillary sitting on an old Ferguson tractor buried in the snow, on Deception Island; the same model that his grandfather Sir Edmund Hillary took to the South Pole. © AHT Antarctic Artefacts Exhibited Antarctic Heritage Trust is delighted by a team of international to partner with Canterbury Museum experts in a laboratory (Christchurch) to exhibit a selection of at Canterbury Museum. artefacts from the Cape Adare huts. The Trust will return the objects when it has Breaking the Ice: The First Year in Antarctica completed conservation (1899–1900) will be the public’s only work on the huts at Cape chance to see unique objects from the Adare in two or three Southern Cross and Terra Nova expeditions years’ time. before they return permanently to the ice. The objects include the famous century- Breaking the Ice tells Borchgrevink’s huts – the only example left on any continent of humanity's old fruitcake that was discovered and the story of the British first dwelling. © AHT Dr Edward Wilson's watercolour of the Antarctic Expedition, which steps on the Ross Ice Shelf, were the first Treecreeper. Both stories generated global sailed from London on the Southern Cross, to use dogs and the Primus stove on the media interest and have had more than landing at Cape Adare in January 1899. The continent, and recorded the first full year 2500 stories published about them. expedition, led by Carsten Borchgrevink, of climate data. The exhibition opens on recorded a number of Antarctic firsts. The The objects were removed from Antarctica 18 May 2019. explorers were the first people to spend by the Antarctic Heritage Trust under a a winter on the Antarctic continent, they Government permit in 2016 and conserved For more information visit nzaht.org erected the first buildings, took the first Alumni News William Pike website: www.bwb.co.nz/books/health- the relationship between communities and (Inspiring Explorer people. maritime heritage in the Taranaki region. She 2017) was awarded hopes to identify models for collaboration Julian Bickersteth (Conservation Artefacts the University of between heritage practitioners and Consultant) was elected as President of IIC Auckland's Young communities that lead to the preservation of (International Institute for the Conservation Alumnus of the Year heritage along the coast. Her and husband, of Historic and Artistic Works) in January, Award for 2019 for Jeff Rawson (Alumnus), have also welcomed the leading materials conservation his William Pike their first child. organisation in the world. Challenge Award for school students. This Brando Yelavich (Inspiring Explorer programme is designed to foster personal Susanne Grieve (Former 2018) is due to do the first self-supported development in young people, with over Conservator) has started crossing of Australia (West to East on a new 6000 students participating so far. a doctoral research route) on bicycle. Follow his adventure at project at Victoria David Skegg (past Trustee) has published wildboyadventures.com. University Wellington in a book, The Health of the People (Bridget the Museum and Heritage Williams Books, 2019). Read more at this For more alumni news visit nzaht.org Studies programme on Susanne Grieve (2012)

Governance In Nansen’s Footsteps In February Dr Brook Barrington stepped down as Chief Executive of the Ministry of A new short film about the 2018 Inspiring trailblazer Brando Yelavich, New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, with Chris Seed Explorers’ Expedition to cross the endurance athlete Hollie Woodhouse, taking up the role after five years as New Greenland ice cap premiered in January respected international videographer Keith Zealand’s High Commissioner to Australia. at the New York Explorers Club Polar Film Parsons and intrepid Australian adventurer Festival. Bridget Kruger (who once slept for nearly The Trust welcomed William Pike and three months to overcome a head injury). Isobel Ewing as interns in a new governance In Nansen’s Footsteps shares the story of The team took 29 days to ski across the initiative aimed at encouraging talented four young explorers journeying 560km ice cap dragging 60kg sleds behind them. young people connected with the Trust’s across the ice cap in honour of Fridtjof They faced unprecedented levels of snow, mission to observe and participate in Board Nansen’s first crossing 130 years earlier. Arctic hurricanes and sickness, in a season discussions. The fixed term internship will Guided by Bengt Rotmo from Ousland where only a handful of teams made it be an opportunity for William and Isobel to Explorers the team included record-setting across the ice successfully. establish boardroom experience and make a positive contribution to the Trust’s work.

Both William and Isobel are members of the Trust’s Alumni Programme, having participated in the 2017 Inspiring Explorers’ Watch In Nansen’s Footsteps at Expedition to climb Mount Scott on the nzaht.org © Keith Parsons Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctic Conservation Update Shackleton’s 111-year-old beer barrel

A particularly proud moment for the Trust this season was the successful return of a carefully reconstructed beer barrel to Scott’s Hut at Cape Evans. © Dr Fiona Shanhun Shackleton’s hut at Cape Royds, which was home to Sir Ernest Shackleton’s historic This season the Trust completed monitoring depot was left by the Terra Nova expedition Nimrod expedition in 1908. This is the same and maintenance work at the huts of Hillary, upon their departure from Antarctica in hut at which three crates of Mackinlay’s Shackleton and Scott on Ross Island. A January 1913 at Campbell’s suggestion, as whisky were famously found. team of four included Programme Manager an emergency depot for future expeditions. In 2016, the barrel staves were removed (Artefacts) Lizzie Meek, and experienced The location was roughly 2.5km from the from the ice and brought to Canterbury contractors Martin Wenzel, Nicola Stewart Northern Party’s cave site. It comprised Museum’s laboratory in Christchurch for and Conservation Ambassador Mike Gillies. a sledge and associated provisions and examination. One of New Zealand’s only Programme Manager Al Fastier worked at equipment. The 27 artefacts have now been practising coopers, Jurgen Voigtlander, was Port Lockroy on the Antarctic Peninsula conserved, including the sledge. engaged to re-build the barrel. The barrel of with UK Antarctic Heritage Trust under beer was originally donated to Shackleton the partnership where AHT share their Cape Adare Due to the Chinese National Programme’s by New Zealand brewer Speight’s in 1907. conservation knowledge and expertise ice breaker Xue Long being unable to developed during the Ross Sea Heritage The Cape Royds hut sits in an Antarctic reach Antarctica as scheduled this season, Restoration Project. Specially Protected Area (ASPA), which the planned works at Cape Adare will be means permits are required to remove Ross Island delayed until the conservation materials and anything from the area and anything A special milestone was celebrated by our supplies on board can reach site. temporarily removed has to be returned. Ross Island conservation team this season, Port Lockroy The barrel was taken back to site with with the Trust’s Programme Manager logistics support from Antarctica Despite battling through one of the wettest (Artefacts) Lizzie Meek having clocked her New Zealand. seasons seen in the last two decades of 1000th day in Antarctica! work at Port Lockroy, with only five non- The barrel bunghole on Over the last 10 years with the Trust, raining days out of 33, Al and the UKAHT one of the recovered Lizzie has spent a winter at New Zealand’s conservation team had a very productive staves is engraved with the words ‘Speight’s’ Scott Base, and many summers working season completing the majority of the works and ‘Dunedin’. © AHT at the historic expedition bases of Scott, scheduled. The project benefited greatly Shackleton, Borchgrevink and Hillary, as well from having an enthusiastic, dedicated and Watch a video on the barrel’s as working on the Antarctic Peninsula. experienced team. reconstruction at nzaht.org

Lizzie says, “Cheers to the AHT and Scott The team conducted a full survey of the Base teams over the years – Antarctica is historic buildings at Base A and Damoy Thank You Hut to assess their conditions, with repairs a beautiful and challenging place to work, We welcome the following new members: but the best thing about it is the pride and made where necessary. A number of Bronze Jan and David Fullarton (NZ) passion folks here bring to the job.” maintenance tasks were also completed, as Paul Ramsey (NZ) well as product testing in order to be better Alongside the annual monitoring and informed for future conservation works at all If you would like to support our work, we maintenance programme, the team of the historic huts within UKAHT’s care. would welcome your donation or support as conserved heroic-era artefacts from cache an Antarctic Explorer Club member. sites at Inexpressible Island and Butter Point. More information on how to support the Read more in the Antarctic blog at Trust can be found on our website. Inexpressible Island (Hell’s Gate Moraine) nzaht.org nzaht.org

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