Captain Scott takes a fall

by: Dr. Laurie Connell

It is a beautiful day here is McMurdo but not all of the team is here yet and Anthony
needs to do his complete Snow Craft course (AKA Happy Camper). This involves going
out onto the Ross Iceshelf and camping over night. It can be lots of fun and is a great
learning experience.

While I wait in “town” I thought I’d fill you in on one of the other points of interest in
Christchurch. As many groups travel down to “The Ice” they have made a pilgrimage of
sorts to the statue of Captain Robert Falcon Scott that was along the Avon River near the
Center of Christchurch.

Captain Scott was one of the early British Antarctic explorers and is most famous for his
ill-fated trip to the South Pole. Their team walked to the South Pole and arrived on 17
January 1912, just over 100 years ago. Unfortunately, they found that the Norwegian
expedition, lead by Roald Amundsen had beaten them. The British group all perished
during the trip back but managed to acquire some very important rocks that later
supported plate tectonics.

The Captain Scott statue fell during the February 2011 earthquake but was lucky enough
to fall on the grass. Right now just his pedestal stands.

But all is not lost. The statue broke at the ankles and has some other less serious damage
so it is now in storage and will eventually be repaired and replaced. The statue was on
display for awhile at the 2012 Ice Festival before going back into storage.

Check out these sites to see more photos of the statue after it fell.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7649093/Quake-damaged-statue-back-on-display

Captain Scott Statue update
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/artsculture/artinthecity/statues/
captainrobertfalconscottstatue.aspx