A group of young explorers has returned a special book to Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery Hut in Antarctica, completing a meaningful mission.
The book, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, dates back to the 19th century and once belonged to early Antarctic explorers. Ngawai Clendon, one of the adventurers, was so moved by the experience that a tear rolled down her cheek—only to freeze mid-fall due to the extreme cold.
The expedition was organised by the Antarctic Heritage Trust and included seven New Zealanders and one Australian. They traveled aboard the Heritage Adventurer ship to the Ross Sea region. The book, worn and covered in soot, was donated anonymously. It still carried the scent of seal blubber, once used as fuel by early explorers like Robert Falcon Scott.
The journey was not easy. Thick sea ice initially blocked their landing, but the ice shifted overnight, revealing a path forward. Explorer Calum Turner was amazed by the size and movement of the ice, comparing it to Wellington’s harbour disappearing overnight. He was also struck by the vastness of Antarctica and the sounds of nature, from penguins and leopard seals to the waves carving icy caves.
The explorers followed strict biosecurity rules to protect the fragile environment, meaning activities like making snow angels were not allowed. Clendon was also shocked by the effects of climate change. At one point, she only needed a single layer of clothing in a place where four or five layers are usually required. The warmth was a stark reminder of the changes happening in Antarctica.
