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38-670: The Willett Range was named by the New Zealand Northern Survey Party of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (CTAE; 1956–58) for R.W. Willett, Director of the New Zealand Geological Survey , who gave valuable assistance throughout the expedition and in the compilation stages after its return. Download coordinates as: The Willet Range runs from south to north along the eastern side of

76-490: A very windy place, which made work outdoors unpleasant. All stores lying in the snow tended to get buried and there was a constant danger of them getting lost. They managed to take a number of journeys to collect seals for the dogs and to scout a route to the south. They used dogs and the Weasel tractor , and four Tucker Sno-Cats . In December 1956, Fuchs returned on Danish Polar vessel Magga Dan with additional supplies, and

114-724: Is marked by secondary spires rising to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) high in the northeast part of McSaveney Spur. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) (2005) after Kathleen A. Welch, Department of Geology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL; team member in United States Antarctic Project (USAP) McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research, 11 field seasons 1994-2004. 77°17′S 160°35′E  /  77.283°S 160.583°E  / -77.283; 160.583 . A prominent rock spur 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) northeast of Mount Bastion. The spur descends northeast from

152-448: Is part of a theme of cycling names in the area. 77°11′52″S 160°17′41″E  /  77.197882°S 160.294672°E  / -77.197882; 160.294672 . An ice-free mountain rising to 2,230 metres (7,320 ft) at Robison Peak located between Cycle Glacier and Rim Glacier in eastern Head Mountains. So named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) (2007) in association with coal beds discovered in rock strata of

190-749: The Antarctic Plateau . It is north of Wright Upper Glacier and the Olympus Range , and west of Balham Valley , the Apocalypse Peaks , Barwick Valley , the Cruzen Range , and Clare Range . The head of the Mackay Glacier is to the north. 77°11′42″S 160°10′14″E  /  77.194941°S 160.170517°E  / -77.194941; 160.170517 . A group of mountains to the south of Gateway Nunatak and

228-649: The British team were separately based at Halley Bay . Fuchs was knighted for his accomplishment. The second overland crossing of the continent did not occur until 1981, during the Transglobe Expedition led by Ranulph Fiennes . Preparations began in London in 1955. Over the austral summer of 1955 to 1956, Fuchs sailed with an advance party from London to Antarctica in the Canadian sealer Theron , with

266-780: The CTAE was a private venture, though it was supported by the governments of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Australia and South Africa, as well as many corporate and individual donations, under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II . It was headed by British explorer Vivian Fuchs , with New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary leading the New Zealand Ross Sea Support team. The New Zealand party included scientists participating in International Geophysical Year research while

304-703: The New Zealand Geographic Board (2005) after Isobel (Helen) Gabites, a member of the Victoria University's Antarctic Expeditions (VUWAE) geological party at Mount Bastion and Allan Hills, 1982-83. 77°20′S 160°40′E  /  77.333°S 160.667°E  / -77.333; 160.667 . A high rocky spur just west of the mouth of Webb Glacier . Named by the Victoria University of Wellington Antarctic Expedition (VUWAE) (1959-60) after G.W. Gibson, one of

342-583: The South Pole, but when he had completed laying supply depots he saw the opportunity to beat the British and continued south, reaching the Pole—where the U.S. Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station had recently been established by air—on 3 January 1958. Hillary's party was just the third—preceded by Roald Amundsen in 1911 and Robert Falcon Scott in 1912—to reach the Pole overland. Hillary's arrival also marked

380-434: The advance party, led by Ken Blaiklock , were left on the ice, having only tents and a packing crate as shelter. Most of the stores were left on the bay ice, some two miles (3.2 km) from the site of where the base was to be set up. Their first task was to get all these stores from the bay ice to the base and to try to build some permanent shelter for the oncoming winter. Once some food and paraffin had been brought up and

418-748: The concept of Antarctica as an analog of Martian features. 77°12′S 159°50′E  /  77.200°S 159.833°E  / -77.200; 159.833 . Mountain, 2,190 metres (7,190 ft) high, rising above the ice plateau just west of Mount Littlepage and Willett Range. Named by US-ACAN in 1964 for Hugh H. DeWitt, scientific leader on the Eltanin, 1962-63, who also served on the Glacier, 1958-59. 77°12′S 160°03′E  /  77.200°S 160.050°E  / -77.200; 160.050 . Mountain over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) high, standing between Mount DeWitt and Mount Dearborn, just west of

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456-399: The dogs safely tethered by the base, the men started to build their hut. This proved to be far more difficult than had been envisaged – not only were the eight men insufficient in number to carry out the heavy tasks easily but the weather at Shackleton was colder and much windier than had been anticipated. When the skeleton of the hut was complete, the men positioned the crates containing

494-607: The esteemed Joel David Ellis Watkins, —were responsible for route-finding and laying a line of supply depots up the Skelton Glacier and across the Polar Plateau on towards the South Pole, for the use of Fuchs on the final leg of his journey. Other members of Hillary's team carried out geological surveys around the Ross Sea and Victoria Land areas. It was not originally intended that Hillary would travel as far as

532-526: The first time that land vehicles had ever reached the Pole. Fuchs' team reached the Pole from the opposite direction on 19 January 1958, where they met up with Hillary. Fuchs then continued overland, following the route that Hillary had laid, while Hillary flew back to Scott Base in a U.S. plane. He would later rejoin Fuchs by plane for part of the remaining overland journey. The overland party finally arrived at Scott Base on 2 March 1958, having completed

570-614: The head of Mackay Glacier near the interior ice plateau of Victoria Land. From west to east the group includes Mount DeWitt, Mount Littlepage, Mount Dearborn and Coalbed Mountain. Named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN, 2007) after James W. Head III, Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, internationally known planetary scientist whose investigations in McMurdo Dry Valleys 2002-06 have led to important advances to

608-616: The historic crossing of 3,473 kilometres (2,158 mi) of previously unexplored snow and ice in 99 days. A few days later the expedition members left Antarctica for New Zealand on the New Zealand naval ship Endeavour . The ship was captained by Captain Harry Kirkwood . Although large quantities of supplies were hauled overland, both parties were also equipped with light aircraft and made extensive use of air support for reconnaissance and supplies. Additional logistical help

646-697: The mountain. 77°12′S 160°15′E  /  77.200°S 160.250°E  / -77.200; 160.250 . A snow-covered peak, 2,230 metres (7,320 ft) high, standing 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) northeast of Mount Dearborn, near the north end of the Willett Range. Named by US-ACAN for Leslie B. Robison, USGS civil engineer who surveyed the peak, December 1960. 77°12′15″S 160°26′22″E  /  77.204141°S 160.439435°E  / -77.204141; 160.439435 . Description: Glacier, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide, flowing north from

684-538: The north end of Metcalf Spur on the plateau of Willett Range. The nunatak is 1.75 nautical miles (3.24 km; 2.01 mi) northwest of Shapeless Mountain. “Pākira” is a Maori word, meaning bald head, and was applied descriptively to this nunatak in 2005 by the New Zealand Geographic Board. 77°22′44″S 160°35′55″E  /  77.378983°S 160.598609°E  / -77.378983; 160.598609 A nunatak group, 1.4 nautical miles (2.6 km; 1.6 mi) long, lying above (southwest of) Haselton Icefall in

722-600: The north end of Willett Range. Named by US-ACAN for John J. Mulligan of the United States Bureau of Mines, who scaled this peak and the peak to the south of it during December 1960 and found coal beds and fossil wood. Southern named features in or near the range include: 77°24′45″S 160°24′20″E  /  77.4125°S 160.405556°E  / -77.4125; 160.405556 A rock spur, 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) long, which extends from Shapeless Mountain northwest to Pākira Nunatak on

760-448: The north end of the Willett Range. Named by US-ACAN for Jack L. Littlepage, biologist at McMurdo Station in 1961, who worked additional summer seasons there, 1959-60 and 1961-62. 77°15′00″S 159°55′00″E  /  77.25°S 159.9166667°E  / -77.25; 159.9166667 . An icefield composed of blue ice, located at the edge of the polar plateau just south of Mount Dewitt and Mount Littlepage, Vi. The name alludes to

798-557: The north part of the Willett Range. Named by the US-ACAN in 1964, for John Dearborn, biologist at McMurdo Station, 1959 and 1961. 77°09′21″S 160°18′33″E  /  77.155923°S 160.309142°E  / -77.155923; 160.309142 . A glacier, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) long and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide, flowing north from the polar plateau between Mount Dearborn and Robinson Peak into Mackay Glacier. Approved by New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) in 1995. The name

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836-605: The party's geologists. 77°19′S 160°29′E  /  77.317°S 160.483°E  / -77.317; 160.483 . Mountain, 2,530 metres (8,300 ft) high, standing west of Webb Glacier and Gibson Spur, where the interior ice plateau meets the Willett Range. Named by the VUWAE (1959-60) for its buttresslike appearance. 77°18′30″S 160°34′29″E  /  77.308381°S 160.57471°E  / -77.308381; 160.57471 A ramplike rock platform, 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) long, that parallels

874-698: The plateau level toward the northwest flank of Webb Glacier. Named by United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Maurice J. McSaveney and Eileen R. McSaveney, husband and wife geologists who made investigations of Meserve Glacier and the Wright Valley area, he in 1968-69, 1972-73 and 1973-74; she in 1969-70 and 1972-73. Nunataks on the Willet Range plateau include: 77°24′03″S 160°22′47″E  /  77.4008333°S 160.3797222°E  / -77.4008333; 160.3797222 A nunatak, 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) high, at

912-484: The plateau of Willett Range. Named by US-ACAN (2005) after Altie Metcalf, Budget and Planning Officer, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 1995-2005. 77°20′48″S 160°32′02″E  /  77.346792°S 160.533966°E  / -77.346792; 160.533966 A glacier on the headwall of Caffin Valley, 0.3 nautical miles (0.56 km; 0.35 mi) west of the head of Walker Glacier. Named by

950-523: The plateau of Willett Range. “Moremore” is a Maori word, meaning bald head, and was applied descriptively to these nunataks in 2005 by the New Zealand Geographic Board. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey . Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition ( CTAE ) of 1955–1958

988-431: The plateau of the Willett Range. “Totoa” is a Maori wind word, meaning boisterous and stormy, and was applied descriptively to this nunatak in 2005 by the New Zealand Geographic Board. 77°18′28″S 160°27′21″E  /  77.307734°S 160.455937°E  / -77.307734; 160.455937 A nunatak group 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) long, immediately west of McSaveney Spur and Mount Bastion on

1026-405: The polar plateau in a deep valley between Robison Peak and Vishniac Peak into Mackay Glacier. The name is part of a theme of cycling names in the area. Approved by New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) in 1995. 77°11′S 160°15′E  /  77.183°S 160.250°E  / -77.183; 160.250 . An ice-free peak 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) north of Robison Peak, at

1064-659: The purpose of establishing Shackleton Base near Vahsel Bay on the Weddell Sea , from which the trans-Antarctic expedition would begin. The Theron , like its immediate forebear, the Endurance , was trapped in the ice. Despite sustaining considerable damage, she was able to free herself with the help of the Auster Antarctic floatplane that scouted a way out. In early 1956, Fuchs sailed back to London, leaving eight men to over-winter at Shackleton. The eight men of

1102-730: The south flank of McSaveney Spur, Willett Range, and declines moderately toward the Webb Glacier. The terrace has a median elevation of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) high and rises 300 metres (980 ft) high above Caffin Valley (q.v.). Named by US-ACAN (2005) after Robin Ormerod, editor 1984-95 of Antarctic, the widely read publication of the New Zealand Antarctic Society. 77°17′07″S 160°35′10″E  /  77.285268°S 160.586099°E  / -77.285268; 160.586099 A steep rugged peak, which

1140-508: The southern summer of 1956–1957 was spent consolidating Shackleton Base and establishing the smaller South Ice Base, about 300 miles (480 km) inland to the south. After spending the winter of 1957 at Shackleton Base, Fuchs finally set out on the transcontinental journey in November ;1957, with a 12-man team travelling in six vehicles; three Sno-Cats , two Weasel tractors , and one specially adapted Muskeg tractor . En route,

1178-517: The team were also tasked with carrying out scientific research including seismic soundings and gravimetric readings. In parallel, Hillary's team had set up Scott Base —which was to be Fuchs' final destination—on the opposite side of the continent at McMurdo Sound on the Ross Sea . Using three converted Ferguson TE20 tractors and one Weasel, abandoned part-way, Hillary and his three men—Ron Balham, Peter Mulgrew and Ellis Williams, great uncle of

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1216-411: The unfinished hut itself was full of snow. The bay ice had broken off taking all the remaining stores with it. Much food and fuel, a couple of huts and a tractor had all gone to sea. The men tried to retrieve the crates by tunnelling under the snow; the tunnels proved to be useful kennels for the dogs protecting them from the unexpectedly severe winter conditions at Shackleton. The party of eight survived

1254-527: The upper part of Haselton Glacier . Named by the New Zealand Geographic Board (2005) after Keith Clegg, Information Officer, Antarctic Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1979-88. 77°19′15″S 160°25′23″E  /  77.320793°S 160.423118°E  / -77.320793; 160.423118 A nunatak at the southwest end of the Moremore Nunataks, 0.8 nautical miles (1.5 km; 0.92 mi) west of Mount Bastion, on

1292-424: The use of a bicycle as a practical means of transportation by a glacial mapping party led by Trevor Chinn, summer season 1992-93, and is part of a theme of cycling names in the area. Approved by New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) in 1995. 77°14′S 160°08′E  /  77.233°S 160.133°E  / -77.233; 160.133 . A mountain, 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) high, between Mount Littlepage and

1330-465: The wall and roof panels around the building site. Then a blizzard began, and lasted for more than a week. The temperature dropped to −20 °C (−4 °F) and the drift around the base made it impossible to do any work outside. The men sheltered in their crate and slept in their tents which were constantly in danger of getting buried by the drift. When finally the wind subsided the giant crates of wall panels had all disappeared under many feet of drift and

1368-403: The winter with some difficulty, but in reasonably good health, and finally completed the building of the hut except for one hole in the roof, the panel for which was never found. While the hut was being constructed they lived by day in the tractor crate and slept in their tents, two men to each tent. The winter temperatures often fell well below −30 °C (−22 °F), and Shackleton proved to be

1406-516: Was a Commonwealth -sponsored expedition that successfully completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica , via the South Pole . It was the first expedition to reach the South Pole overland for 46 years, preceded only by Amundsen's expedition and Scott's expedition in 1911 and 1912. In keeping with the tradition of polar expeditions of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration ,

1444-511: Was provided by U.S. personnel who were working in Antarctica at that time. Both parties also took dog teams which were used for fieldwork trips and backup in case of failure of the mechanical transportation, though the dogs were not taken all the way to the Pole. In December 1957 four men from the expedition flew one of the planes—a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter —on an 11-hour, 1,430-mile (2,300 km), non-stop trans-polar flight across

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