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Antarctic History

Posts related to the human history of Antarctica: explorers, expeditions, historic huts, ‘then and now’ stories, historic exhibits, journals, photos, etc…

Dec 02
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Snow-covered mountains with steep, jagged peaks rise against a clear blue sky in Antarctica. The slopes are streaked with rocky outcrops and patches of ice, and a glacier descends between the peaks into the valley below.

50 Years of Antarctic Mountaineering

By Antarctic History, Climb Antarctica, Mount Sidley, Mount Vinson, Travel Safety & Guiding No Comments
The 2016 Antarctic season marks 50 years since the first ascent of the continent’s four highest peaks by the American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition (AAME). Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak at 16,050 ft (4892 m), was first summited on December 18, 1966 by AAME expedition members, Pete Schoening, Bill Long, John…
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Mar 19
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Black-and-white photo of various food rations on paper, including a stack of rectangular blocks, a round can, sugar cubes, and tea leaves—supplies reminiscent of what explorers once relied on during early South Pole expeditions in Antarctica.

Tea or Cocoa? Fueling the Debate

By Antarctic History, General Interest, Ski South Pole – Axel Heiberg, Ski South Pole – Hercules Inlet, Ski South Pole – Messner Start No Comments
With its hot, filling, rejuvenating qualities, cocoa has been an essential staple on all the major expeditions to the North and South Poles. Men would drink cup after cup of it as a bulwark against the morale and strength-sapping task of trudging across an icy, austere landscape. But explorers have…
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Aug 28
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Maria Klenova

By Antarctic History, Polar Explorers No Comments
Maria Vasilyevna Klenova (1898 – 1976) Maria Klenova was a Russian and Soviet marine geologist and one of the founders of Russian marine science. Klenova spent nearly 30 years researching the polar regions. She was the first woman scientist to do research in Antarctica and was a contributor to the…
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