This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.
Hut Point Ridge Loop and Discovery Hut, McMurdo Station
A short loop from McMurdo Station along the ridge of Hut Point to Discovery Hut, built by Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery Expedition in 1902 and now an Antarctic Historic Site and Monument. The ridge looks over McMurdo Sound and the station's ice pier, and the route ends a few hundred metres from the station.
Trail Map
Initialising Map Engine...
Trail Profile
General Instructions
About 4.5 km on the mapped ridge path and station roads, roughly 1–1.5 hours. Austral summer station season. Sign out with the station before leaving; entry to Discovery Hut itself is managed under the hut's conservation plan and is only with an authorised escort.
Weather check
Sampling Micro-Climate...
-77.8475, 166.6700
Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: -77.8475, 166.6700 @ 31m
Quick Stats
Highlights
- See Discovery Hut from Scott's 1901–04 expedition
- Visit Vince's Cross on Hut Point
- Look over McMurdo Sound and Winter Quarters Bay
- Watch for seals on the sea ice
- Combine with the Observation Hill trail
Field Radio Protocol
VHF-UHF Communication
Propagation Telemetry
Ridge Line
92%Gorge Floor
18%Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range
Regulatory Compliance
VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.
Technical Analysis
Total Ascent
+110 m
Total Descent
-117 m
Ruggedness Index
Terrain Roughness Index
Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).
49.8
Tortuosity Index
Route Curviness Index
Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).
1.55
Gradient Distribution
Surface & Hydrology
Surface Spectrum Analysis
Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.
Difficulty Analysis
Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.
Bounding Box (WGS84)
Point Spacing: 25.2 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0
Reviews & Discussion0
Expedition notes, route modifications, and surface updates shared by the community.
Log Expedition Notes
You must be signed in to contribute reviews
Authenticate IdentityBe the first to review
No reviews registered for this technical sector yet. Share your experience, surface observations, or gear recommendations!
Plan this trip
Before you go: Hut Point Ridge Loop and Discovery Hut, McMurdo Station
More like this
Navigate it offline
Download this trail and its map in the free TrailX app for turn-by-turn guidance, off-route alerts and GPS recording without signal.
Open in TrailX appNearby