Rare Look Inside Antarctic Explorers’ Huts | National Geographic

we’re at Cape Evans on Ross Island in

we’re at Cape Evans on Ross Island in the Antarctic this is a Hut from which

the Antarctic this is a Hut from which

the Antarctic this is a Hut from which Captain Falcon Scott took off to the

Captain Falcon Scott took off to the

Captain Falcon Scott took off to the South Pole on his expedition from which

South Pole on his expedition from which

South Pole on his expedition from which he didn’t return I work with a

he didn’t return I work with a

he didn’t return I work with a conservation architect and conservation

conservation architect and conservation

conservation architect and conservation builder and artifact conservator and a

builder and artifact conservator and a

builder and artifact conservator and a project manager and together we’ve been

project manager and together we’ve been

project manager and together we’ve been conserving this building that was

conserving this building that was

conserving this building that was abandoned in about 1914 at the end of

abandoned in about 1914 at the end of

abandoned in about 1914 at the end of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration

the heroic age of Antarctic exploration

the heroic age of Antarctic exploration if you take a long view of this Hut

if you take a long view of this Hut

if you take a long view of this Hut you’ll see that it’s built on the lowest

you’ll see that it’s built on the lowest

you’ll see that it’s built on the lowest part of a beach and so for about a month

part of a beach and so for about a month

part of a beach and so for about a month or two every year there’s free water

or two every year there’s free water

or two every year there’s free water which runs down the slope and so that

which runs down the slope and so that

which runs down the slope and so that was gathering behind and underneath the

was gathering behind and underneath the

was gathering behind and underneath the hut and a ton of ice was formed

hut and a ton of ice was formed

hut and a ton of ice was formed underneath the floor in the walls that

underneath the floor in the walls that

underneath the floor in the walls that vapor was condensing and freezing and

vapor was condensing and freezing and

vapor was condensing and freezing and expanding and starting to blow the walls

expanding and starting to blow the walls

expanding and starting to blow the walls apart and in the hut itself the aspects

apart and in the hut itself the aspects

apart and in the hut itself the aspects were becoming sodden by this moisture

were becoming sodden by this moisture

were becoming sodden by this moisture come here what we’ve done is stabilizer

come here what we’ve done is stabilizer

come here what we’ve done is stabilizer Hut’s and that’s been the goal of the

Hut’s and that’s been the goal of the

Hut’s and that’s been the goal of the conservation plans to stabilize them so

conservation plans to stabilize them so

conservation plans to stabilize them so we can say with confidence

we can say with confidence

we can say with confidence barring any kind of catastrophic event

barring any kind of catastrophic event

barring any kind of catastrophic event and that these Hut’s will be here in

and that these Hut’s will be here in

and that these Hut’s will be here in good structural shape for the next 35

good structural shape for the next 35

good structural shape for the next 35 years something like that

years something like that

years something like that at least I think the thing that’s really

at least I think the thing that’s really

at least I think the thing that’s really special about these huts is that this is

special about these huts is that this is

special about these huts is that this is the only continent on earth where the

the only continent on earth where the

the only continent on earth where the first structures of human occupation are

first structures of human occupation are

first structures of human occupation are still in evidence

still in evidence

still in evidence and I bet alone make some extraordinary

and I bet alone make some extraordinary

and I bet alone make some extraordinary special it seems to me I think also they

special it seems to me I think also they

special it seems to me I think also they have they continue to have lessons for

have they continue to have lessons for

have they continue to have lessons for people about the aspirations of that

people about the aspirations of that

people about the aspirations of that people will have you know about the

people will have you know about the

people will have you know about the lengths that they will go to not just

lengths that they will go to not just

lengths that they will go to not just the discovery of the South Pole but the

the discovery of the South Pole but the

the discovery of the South Pole but the science program that ran in conjunction

science program that ran in conjunction

science program that ran in conjunction with that discovery in that respect

with that discovery in that respect

with that discovery in that respect their Hut’s can can be an example to

their Hut’s can can be an example to

their Hut’s can can be an example to people of that sort of commitment to

people of that sort of commitment to

people of that sort of commitment to going where things are not known