The controversy around the proposal and formation of the South Pole Traverse

• Main Author: Maxwell, Bob
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: University of Canterbury 2012
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Ross Island; South Pole; McMurdo Station; Amundsen-Scott; Amundsen Scott South Pole Station; Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station; Hercules; Leverett Glacier; Antarc*; South pole
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10092/13896

The South Pole Traverse is a 1650 Km overland (ice) route from the US McMurdo station on Ross Island to the Amundsen–Scott South Pole station. The route was formed to enable supplies and fuel to be transported overland by means of tractor trains and specialised sleds, which previously was completed by multiple flights using Hercules LC-130 aircraft (Anandakrishnan, 2001). This paper aims to briefly outline the controversy around the proposal and formation of the South Pole Traverse. First a short overview of the construction and reasons behind the construction of the route will be presented. A search of the literature is next presented, with further analysis of the three key themes identified: environmental impact, wilderness impact and tourism. Discussion of the various themes is undertaken, concluding with suggestions for future research. The primary reason the South Pole overland traverse was considered necessary was because of the efficiency savings sought, due to the high cost of flying fuel and materials to the South Pole Station. The main savings would be realised with respect to savings of fuel, as it is up to 40% more fuel efficient to transport overland than by air freight (National Science Foundation, 2004). Other advantages include the opportunity to conduct more science by freeing up planes that other wise would be used to re-supply the South Pole Station. Environmental impact would be also reduced by lowering the amount of fuel consumed, and larger load sizes are able to be hauled compared to flown. Construction of the route started in the 2002-2003 summer season, and the route was operational four seasons later in the 2005-2006 summer season (The Antarctic Sun, 2006). The first operational traverse was completed during the 2008 – 09 season (The Antarctic Sun, 2009). The route traverses two crevasse fields, the McMurdo shear zone and the lower Leverett glacier. Crevasses in these areas were filled in using explosives and heavy snow moving machinery, allowing the safe passage of the tractor trains. ...