Fitness climb
Clambering to the top of Antarctica’s 730 ft Observation Hill is fast becoming a popular fitness pastime for men at McMurdo Station. The [hill rises behind the camp. From the site of the nuclear power plant, half[way up the hill, the incline averages 63deg. The average [climber reaches Scott’s Cross at the top in 16 minutes—then takes about seven minutes to get down. The record for the climb to the summit and back down again—81 minutes—is held by the United States Navy VXE6 Squadron doctor (Lieutenant E. R. Wilgress). He established the record in December, 1972. Since then many sailors and scientists, and a few visitors, who felt they had the necessary physical stamina, have tried unsuccessfully to beat the record. Lieutenant Wilgress believes that the climb to the top of Observation Hill, plus the walk to the beginning of the climb—about half a mile from any point around McMurdo Station—can be used to good advantage in meet®g the general health and fitness requirements of the Navy’s general military training.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33435, 17 January 1974, Page 14
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172Fitness climb Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33435, 17 January 1974, Page 14
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