With the passage of time, coupled with the dramatic changes that have taken place to life in the Antarctic bases, I decided to present additional photographs and text describing my trip to “the ice” in what already appears to be ancient times in the Antarctic. It is hard to believe that more time has passed since my visit than had passed between Amundsen’s arrival at the Pole in December 1911 and my trip in November 1959 in the comfort and safety of a Globemaster.

The text is by and large what I dictated to my portable recorder at the time. I have removed some extraneous observations, and have added a few anecdotal and informational items, including the extraordinary story of how the great Swiss Photographer Emil Schulthess almost lost his life at the South Pole.  I have kept the present tense in the narrative, which gives a sense of immediacy, but is certainly not meant to convey the way things are today in the Antarctic.

Many of the things we did or witnessed during our visit are no longer permitted, such as casually hugging penguins or killing seals to feed the huskies.  Many steps have been taken to protect the environment and the fauna under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty. Today there are over 100 buildings at McMurdo.  Televison and internet is provided by satellite, and there’s an ATM, among other amenities.