Mount Gilmour
Encyclopedia
Mount Gilmour is a mountain
4 nautical miles (7 km) southeast of Mount Passel
on the central part of the irregular ridge separating Crevasse Valley Glacier and Arthur Davis Glacier (ex-Warpasgiljo Glacier
), in the Edsel Ford Ranges of Marie Byrd Land
.
West Base Geological Party Expedition
Discovered in 1940 by the four Geological Party Expedition members of the West Base, Little America III of the United States Antarctic Service (USAS). Named for Harold P. Gilmour
, one of the four Geological Party Expedition members, recorder, and subsequently historian and administrative assistant to the expedition commander, Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd
.
In February 1940, shortly after West Base was set up in Little America III, Dr. Paul Siple directed an airplane flight from the West Base to the Edsel Ford Ranges
to determine where exploration and geological work was to be done during the next summer season, and numerous aerial photographs were taken. During the long winter months that followed, fairly accurate maps were made of the Southern Edsel Ford Ranges. This is an area of approximately 7000 square miles (18,129.9 km²) of mountainous coastland in the northwestern region of Marie Byrd Land
. During the 1940 winter night, a Geological Party Expedition of four explorers was organized and they prepared for the extremely long treck on two dog sleds to the Edsel Ford Ranges. The four-man party was composed of Lawrence A. Warner, leader and geologist, Charles F. Passel, geologist and radio operator, Harold P. Gilmour
"Gil", recorder and collector of biological specimens and Loran Wells "Joe", photographer and observer. The extensive Warpasgiljo Glacier
was discovered and named for these four members (WARner + PASsel + GILmour + JOe) of the Geological Party Expedition.
The Geological Party's Expedition objective was to map and geologically survey as much of the southern portion of the Edsel Ford Range as possible, and additionally investigate the natural resources of the area and triangulate accurately for improved maps of the region. The four-man Geological Party Expedition left the West Base on October 17, 1940 to explore and record the territory and returned 82 days later on January 7, 1941 traveling a total of 691 nautical miles (1,279.7 km) on board their dog sleds. In the nearly three-month expedition, they had to be supported by airplanes that deposited supplies at 100 miles (160.9 km) intervals along their charted route. The Geological Party Expedition visited for the first time some 50 peaks in this region and some 300 geological specimens were collected. Mount Gilmour was one of those peaks.
Expedition Dog Sleds used in the 1939-1941 Byrd Polar Expedition
During the 1939-1941 Expedition, dog sleds were the most reliable form of ground exploration in Antarctica. A dog sled team capable of transporting two men contained nine dogs. They could haul around 100 lb (45.4 kg) per dog, for a total of 900 lb (408.2 kg). For a 30-day expedition, some 550 lb (249.5 kg) of food were needed for the two men and the dogs. The other 350 lb (158.8 kg) were used for fuel and camping equipment. With good weather in the Antarctic summer, they could travel 10 knots (19.6 km/h) per day, or a total of 300 knots (588 km/h).
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
4 nautical miles (7 km) southeast of Mount Passel
Mount Passel
Mount Passel is a ridgelike mountain 4 nautical miles north of the Swanson Mountains in the Ford Ranges, Marie Byrd Land. Discovered in December 1940 by members of a geological party of the United States Antarctic Service which visited this area, and named for Charles F. Passel, geologist and...
on the central part of the irregular ridge separating Crevasse Valley Glacier and Arthur Davis Glacier (ex-Warpasgiljo Glacier
Warpasgiljo Glacier
Warpasgiljo Glacier is a Valley glacier about long, flowing West to Sulzberger Ice Shelf between the Swanson Mountains on the North and Mounts Rea and Cooper on the South, in the Edsel Ford Ranges of Marie Byrd Land...
), in the Edsel Ford Ranges of Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land is the portion of West Antarctica lying east of the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ross Sea and south of the Pacific Ocean, extending eastward approximately to a line between the head of the Ross Ice Shelf and Eights Coast. It stretches between 158°W and 103°24'W...
.
West Base Geological Party Expedition
Discovered in 1940 by the four Geological Party Expedition members of the West Base, Little America III of the United States Antarctic Service (USAS). Named for Harold P. Gilmour
Harold P. Gilmour
Harold Parker Gilmour was a volunteer Antarctic explorer, at $1 per annum, for the 1939–1941 Byrd Polar Expedition to Antarctica, as part of the United States Antarctic Service . Mount Gilmour, located in Antarctica, is named in his honor.-Role as an explorer in the Byrd Antarctic Expedition...
, one of the four Geological Party Expedition members, recorder, and subsequently historian and administrative assistant to the expedition commander, Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr., USN was a naval officer who specialized in feats of exploration. He was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics...
.
In February 1940, shortly after West Base was set up in Little America III, Dr. Paul Siple directed an airplane flight from the West Base to the Edsel Ford Ranges
Ford Ranges
The Ford Ranges is a grouping of mountain ranges standing east of Sulzberger Ice Shelf and Block Bay in the northwest part of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica...
to determine where exploration and geological work was to be done during the next summer season, and numerous aerial photographs were taken. During the long winter months that followed, fairly accurate maps were made of the Southern Edsel Ford Ranges. This is an area of approximately 7000 square miles (18,129.9 km²) of mountainous coastland in the northwestern region of Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land is the portion of West Antarctica lying east of the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ross Sea and south of the Pacific Ocean, extending eastward approximately to a line between the head of the Ross Ice Shelf and Eights Coast. It stretches between 158°W and 103°24'W...
. During the 1940 winter night, a Geological Party Expedition of four explorers was organized and they prepared for the extremely long treck on two dog sleds to the Edsel Ford Ranges. The four-man party was composed of Lawrence A. Warner, leader and geologist, Charles F. Passel, geologist and radio operator, Harold P. Gilmour
Harold P. Gilmour
Harold Parker Gilmour was a volunteer Antarctic explorer, at $1 per annum, for the 1939–1941 Byrd Polar Expedition to Antarctica, as part of the United States Antarctic Service . Mount Gilmour, located in Antarctica, is named in his honor.-Role as an explorer in the Byrd Antarctic Expedition...
"Gil", recorder and collector of biological specimens and Loran Wells "Joe", photographer and observer. The extensive Warpasgiljo Glacier
Warpasgiljo Glacier
Warpasgiljo Glacier is a Valley glacier about long, flowing West to Sulzberger Ice Shelf between the Swanson Mountains on the North and Mounts Rea and Cooper on the South, in the Edsel Ford Ranges of Marie Byrd Land...
was discovered and named for these four members (WARner + PASsel + GILmour + JOe) of the Geological Party Expedition.
The Geological Party's Expedition objective was to map and geologically survey as much of the southern portion of the Edsel Ford Range as possible, and additionally investigate the natural resources of the area and triangulate accurately for improved maps of the region. The four-man Geological Party Expedition left the West Base on October 17, 1940 to explore and record the territory and returned 82 days later on January 7, 1941 traveling a total of 691 nautical miles (1,279.7 km) on board their dog sleds. In the nearly three-month expedition, they had to be supported by airplanes that deposited supplies at 100 miles (160.9 km) intervals along their charted route. The Geological Party Expedition visited for the first time some 50 peaks in this region and some 300 geological specimens were collected. Mount Gilmour was one of those peaks.
Expedition Dog Sleds used in the 1939-1941 Byrd Polar Expedition
During the 1939-1941 Expedition, dog sleds were the most reliable form of ground exploration in Antarctica. A dog sled team capable of transporting two men contained nine dogs. They could haul around 100 lb (45.4 kg) per dog, for a total of 900 lb (408.2 kg). For a 30-day expedition, some 550 lb (249.5 kg) of food were needed for the two men and the dogs. The other 350 lb (158.8 kg) were used for fuel and camping equipment. With good weather in the Antarctic summer, they could travel 10 knots (19.6 km/h) per day, or a total of 300 knots (588 km/h).