44. Hut Point

44.Hut Point

77º50´45´´S, 166º38´30´´E

Southern extremity of Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island, McMurdo Sound

Latest Revision: 2021

Key Features

- Historic hut and associated artefacts from British National Antarctic (Discovery) Expedition of 1901-04 led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott
- Designated Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No. 158 – entry strictly by permit.
- Associated with several nearby Historic Sites and Monuments
- Adjacent to McMurdo Station (US) and Scott Base (NZ)

Description

TOPOGRAPHY

Hut Point is a small ice free promontory protruding southwest from Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island, and situated ~500 m to the west of McMurdo Station (US) (Map 1).

Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), south polar skuas (Stercorarius maccormicki), emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri), snow petrels (Pagodroma nivea), and Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica) are commonly observed in the area near Hut Point, although do not breed in the immediate area. Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) regularly haul out on adjacent sea ice in the summer, and leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) may occasionally be seen.

FLORA

Sparse lichens are present on rocky ground at Hut Point.

OTHER

Hut Point is one of the principal areas of early human activity in Antarctica. The hut built by Scott’s Discovery Expedition 1901-04 remains as an important symbol of the heroic era of Antarctic exploration and has been designated Historic Site and Monument (HSM) No. 18. Numerous artefacts remain within the hut. HSM No. 19, a cross erected in February 1904 by the British National Antarctic (Discovery) Expedition of 1901-04, in memory of George T. Vince (who died on the expedition) is situated ~75 metres west of the hut. HSM No. 20, a cross erected in January 1913 by the British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition of 1910-13, in memory of Captain Robert F. Scott's party which perished on the return journey from the South Pole in March 1912, is located on Observation Hill ~1.4 km southeast of Hut Point (Map 1).

Visitor Impact

KNOWN IMPACTS

Disturbance to historic artefacts, cumulative effects of human presence in and around the hut.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

Damage to hut and associated artefacts, fire, importation of non-native species, litter, noise.

Landing Requirements

SHIPS*

Comments: No current limit on ships, although visitor numbers are subject to the limits set below.
Comments: * A ship is defined as a vessel that carries more than 12 passengers.

VISITORS

Comments: Entry into Discovery hut (ASPA No. 158) is prohibited except in accordance with a permit which must be carried on site. All visitors to Discovery hut must be accompanied by a trained guide. Consult the Management Plan for ASPA No. 158 and entry permit for further information. The historic hut is locked and a key must be obtained as part of the permitting process.
• Annual max. number of visitors to Discovery hut (including guides): 2000 people.
• Max. number of people inside the hut at any one time (including guides): 8 people.

Visitor Area

LANDING AREA

• There are no particular routes designated for access to Hut Point, although access by small boat (when there is open water) may be made to Winter Quarters Bay or to the coastline in McMurdo Sound ~100 m northwest of Discovery hut at approximately 77° 50' 42"S, 166° 38' 23"E.
• Access from McMurdo Station to Discovery hut is usually along the road around Winter Quarters Bay.
• Access to Hut Point during vessel resupply operations in Winter Quarters Bay must be coordinated with McMurdo Station management.
• Helicopter landings within 100 m of Discovery hut are prohibited and helicopter overflights should be avoided to the maximum extent practicable.

CLOSED AREA

• ASPAs are closed except to permit holders. Permit holders must adhere to the requirements and visitor numbers specified in the Management Plan for ASPA No. 158.
• McMurdo Station (US) and Scott Base (NZ) are closed to visitors unless permission has been obtained in advance from station management.
• For safety reasons and because of sensitive scientific / service facilities, all areas including roads and walking trails on Hut Point Peninsula other than within the ‘free roaming area’ are closed to visitors.

GUIDED WALKING AREA

• Visitors entering Discovery hut (ASPA No. 158) must be accompanied by a guide.
• Visitors with permission to access McMurdo Station or Scott Base must be accompanied by a guide and / or an official station representative.

FREE ROAMING AREA

The area of Hut Point in the immediate vicinity of Discovery hut, including from the concrete barriers at the McMurdo Station road terminus to Vince’s Cross (see Map 1, Inset). The free-roaming area does NOT include the trail leading up the ridgeline north of Discovery hut. The Visitor Code of Conduct (below) shall be followed at all times.

Visitor code of conduct

BEHAVIOUR ASHORE

All waste including human waste must be removed from the area.
Any newly discovered historic artefact(s) should be left in situ. Photograph the item(s), record the location by GPS or on a map, write a description and submit the information to the appropriate national authority as soon as practicable.
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE HISTORIC HUT: As many areas are cramped and artefacts can be accidentally bumped, do not take bags or wear packs inside, do not use ‘selfie’ sticks for photos, and avoid tripods or monopods when the maximum number of visitors (8) are in the hut at one time.
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE HISTORIC HUT: Do not touch, move or sit on any items or furniture in the hut – handling artefacts causes damage.
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE HISTORIC HUT: Only use tripods or monopods with flat bottomed rubber bases as opposed to those with metal spikes which can damage the hut floor.
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE HISTORIC HUT: Remove or dry before entry, any clothing made wet by sea water, and any sea ice crystals from boots, as salt particles accelerate corrosion of metal objects.
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE HISTORIC HUT: Smoking or the use of any naked flames in or around the historic hut is strictly prohibited, as fire is a major risk.
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE HISTORIC HUT: Thoroughly clean grit, dirt, guano, ice and snow from boots using the brushes provided before entering the hut to reduce floor abrasion.
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE HISTORIC HUT: Visits should be recorded in the visitor book provided. This allows data on times and numbers of visitors to be correlated with temperature and humidity data automatically logged inside the hut.
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE PROTECTED AREA: No plant or animal materials, food products or chemicals are to be taken into the protected area, and food is not to be consumed inside the hut or surrounding area.
Do not approach wildlife closer than 5m (or viewing distance consistent with your national programme’s code of conduct), increase the distance if the animal is disturbed, and take particular care around nesting birds.
Keep noise to a minimum.
Nothing, except for waste, is to be taken from the area.
Overflights / landings by remotely piloted aircraft systems (drones) are prohibited, except if authorised by permit by a national authority.
Take care not to tread on any artefacts, which may be difficult to see

CAUTIONARY NOTES

The ASPA boundary includes the whole hut and includes any artefacts in the exterior verandahs. Visitors may access the area under the verandahs without a permit but are requested not to touch the hut or disturb any historic artefacts.

Parts of the coastline at Hut Point near Vince’s Cross (HSM No. 19) are eroding and unstable and accordingly visitors should exercise extra care

Fig. 1: Scott’s Discovery hut (ASPA No. 158 & HSM No. 18) on Hut Point, looking south towards White Island and Black Island. Photo: S. Bamford, Antarctica NZ, Jan 2020.


Fig. 2: Interior of Scott’s Discovery hut (ASPA No. 158 & HSM No. 18). Photo: N. Stewart, Antarctic Heritage Trust, 06 Jan 2015).

44. Hut Point

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