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Mawson's Hut Visit-part2

Each person leaves a legacy of family history for their descendants to follow – none more so than the Australian Antarctic Explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson, and his grandson Emlyn Thomas.

Mawson's grandson outside hut ©

On December 2, 1911, Mawson headed south on his own expedition to establish bases at Macquarie Island, and two places on the East Antarctic side of Antarctica. The Australasian Antarctic Expedition soon found few places to land and chose Cape Denison in Commonwealth. Later to be called the Home of the Blizzard in recognition of the fierce katabatic winds which pour off the Antarctic Plateau.

December 4 2008, 97 years later saw Mawson’s grandson departing on an expedition bound for Macquarie Island and Commonwealth Bay. Emlyn remembers Mawson, the stories and charisma of this Antarctic hero.

Travelling south with our ‘In the Foosteps of Mawson’ programme certainly made a lasting impression on his fellow travelers, with the quest to visit the remote Hut at Cape Denison, within the wide Commonwealth Bay.

From a wind whipped fury, rolling aquamarine seas to blessed calm – Macquarie Island laid out the diversity of weather its known for. Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife ranger Sean took Emlyn up Wireless Hill which lit the fires of exploration and understanding from within. Treasured memories were relived and shared with us, it was a privilege for all.

Commonwealth Bay delivered only one day of wind on our arrival and then rewarded us with a day of never ending assaults on the senses. Calm seas, no wind, relative warmth, wind blasted timbers, ice- blue and white and a welcome from the Mawson’s Hut Foundation Team undertaking work at Cape Denison.

Inside the hut, clothed in ice, or exposed through the careful restoration work the presence of the Mawson’s team members was raw for all to experience. Poignantly marked bunks – X.M for Xavier Mertz – heightened the wild power of nature surrounding this part of Antarctica.

Emlyn wore Mawson’s balaclava, made by Jaeger, a firm still supporting Antarctic endeavour. His emotions, graciously shared, respected the past and one felt gave vision for the future. Heritage Expeditions was honoured to share this experience with him, to literally walk in his grandfather’s footsteps, making the legacy left, a living event.