Miers Refuge Hut

The Miers refuge hut was found to be in good condition on our arrival and certainly made our stay considerably more comfortable than having to rely solely on tentage. The hut was used mainly as a laboratory for operating the PC although it was also used for cooking, eating, and recreation. The hut in general is poorly ventilated, however, with only two persons (three at the most) last season this did not lead to major problems. In the past severe condensation problems have been experienced while cooking. The Miers Hut is well sited for work anywhere in the valley.

More of the "old" food found in the Hut in 1988-89 was returned to Scott Base for dumping. This accumulated food has lead to a storage problems during recent seasons as field parties in the past have left their surplus supplies behind when shifting camp. None of the food found in the hut was used and the hut contains a good supply of fuel, cooking utensils, and a minimum of ten days food.

The provision of a field toilet made life considerably more comfortable, particularly on windy days. This toilet is "wired down" on the lee side of a low moraine ridge approximately 100 m page 57 from the hut. No pollution will occur as all waste is "captured" and returned to Scott Base for disposal.

The Miers refuge box, which is on a high moraine mound 100 m from the hut, was still sealed and was therefore not checked and no inventory was carried out. A couple of coats of paint were applied at the end of the season to make it more visible.