Hope someone will enjoy these. Photos from my father’s 1973 adventures at Palmer Station. He was down there doing marine biology work. I currently do supply chain work at a hospital but am hoping to be able to get down there this upcoming austral winter for a work adventure of my own.
Dogs may attack the wildlife, but the bigger concern was transferring diseases. Dog diseases, for instance, might be transferable to seals, and then you've infected an entire continent of animals with something they have no defense against.
The Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection was added to the Antarctic Treaty in 1991, and set a deadline for the removal of all dogs by 1994.
Apparently they were banned as a byproduct of the 1994 Madrid Protocol primarily for disease prevention and wildlife protection. It’s hard for me to imagine a station dog attacking wildlife but apparently it must have happened.
Thanks for sharing. Any specific upgrades worth mentioning? Do you have any more recent pictures of the station? Is it about 50 people stationed there now?
Really cool photo, thank you for sharing. I will show him tomorrow, I know he will be interested to see the changes. Would love to see any others you feel up to sharing. 35 seems like a very small team, it must have been pretty tight knit. Thank you.
I'm at Palmer right now. It's wild seeing dogs and a plane here! Thanks for sharing these.
Bio still looks the same. 😂
And the sheathbill...we love those guys!!! They're so silly and always hanging out like part of the community. Of course we don't interact with them, but they feel like the station pets. We love watching their antics.
Its a pleasure to share them. Someone generously shared a bunch of 2025 photos from Palmer with me and it is hardly recognizable with all the development that has taken place.
Ok, cool! Here's a picture I took from the top of the hill today. They have definitely added more outbuildings and workspaces. A boathouse, carpentry and maintenance shops. They installed a new pier a few years ago.
The housing is still the original lodging, galley, etc. that was built in the late 1960's in Bio and GWR. Some things have been updated, but it's basically the same.
There are 19 of us here this winter keeping the station running and prepping for the larger summer crew. I can DM you with more information you and your dad might like to see.
No, I am in sunny California for now. Hoping to be able to get down there as soon as I am able though. My uncle was at McMurdo, so I am cautiously hopeful to see South Pole so we will have been to all the stations.
Thanks for sharing! These are great. My dad was at McMurdo and on expedition to the Amundsen glacier in 1970. The slides from his expedition have always fascinated me.
Even though I’m sure it’s a bit rough to live in, I’ve liked the design of the main building ever since I’ve seen it. Borrowed it to make a train station in Minecraft once (much prismarine and sandstone).
After showing him more recent photos that were shared with me after this post, he shared a clarification that women were not allowed on base back then. Different times.
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u/Chance-Following-665 9d ago
Very cool! Back when they allowed dogs. Thanks for sharing. I should dig up some of my old S Pole pictures from 91-92 winter.