Chapel of the Snows (McMurdo Antarctica) Traditional Cache
Hidden : 11/6/2012
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

CHAPEL OF THE SNOWS

Caching with a cup of coffee in the warm

They call it “the coldest, driest, windiest place on earth.” The highest temperature ever on the continent of Antarctica was 59ºF (15ºC). The lowest temperature was -129ºF(-89.44ºC).
Whiteouts or blizzards are common, though very little snow actually falls. In mid-summer the sun never sets. In mid-winter it never rises.

In 1956, while the Navy SeaBees where building McMurdo Station, there were no plans for a chapel. Chapel services were to be held in the mess hall. But quietly, and on their own time, the navy chaplain and off duty SeaBees built a little chapel at a high point in the camp and named it The Chapel of the Snows. It had the distinction of being the southernmost house of worship in the world.
In 1978 a fire destroyed the original building, and a temporary chapel was constructed. On Sunday, January of 1989, a group of 80 people gathered to dedicate the current Chapel of the Snows, perched on a little knoll, overlooking McMurdo Sound. Just 840 miles from the South Pole, it is still the only house dedicated specifically for worship on the Antarctic continent.
Sunday Services are held regularly and the Chapel serves as a sanctuary and quite space
Have a look at the Chapel of the Snows History
In the summer season there are always two full time chaplains, a Protestant pastor from the US Air National Guard and a Catholic priest from New Zealand at the Chapel.
The Chapel is open 24/7 and the Chaplains are welcoming any visit and know about the geocache. You can help yourself with coffee or tea. Say hello to the chaplains if they are around.

PLEASE RESPECT THE CHAPEL AND DON”T DISTURB THE SERVICES.


The cache is a ammo can. At the start, the cache contained

green log book
Pencil
Hand and feet warmers
soft ball
stickers
3 pathtags
2 AA batteries
2 McMurdo maps
To reach the cache, you have to ask a chapelain to open the door. They know there is a cache there. Please replace cache as found
The terrain rating includes the difficulty to reach McMurdo (no tourism)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

EUF Fgbentr Ebbz, orgjrra gjb jnyyf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Advertising with Us