Pegasus Road

Pegasus Road transition from Ross Island to Ross Ice Shelf, near Scott Base

McMurdo Area Routes 2005-2006, showing Pegasus Field (lower left), Ross Island (top center), and the connecting road

Pegasus Road is an 18-mile-long (29 km) road of dirt and packed snow constructed by the United States Antarctic Program on Ross Island and the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. The trip along the road from McMurdo Station to Pegasus Field takes approximately 45 minutes in a "Delta" wheeled vehicle, although on occasion high temperatures have damaged the runway and caused the road surface to deteriorate enough to lengthen the trip to two hours.

New Zealand's Scott Base is also served by the road.

References

• Shoop, S. A.; Phetteplace, G.; Wieder, W. L. "Snow Roads at McMurdo Station, Antarctica" (PDF). Hanover, New Hampshire: United States Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. ERDC/CRREL-TR-10-5.
  • Abstract
• Seman, Peter M. (September 2012). "Airfield Passenger Transportation System at McMurdo Station, Antarctica". Hanover, NH: United States Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. ERDC/CRREL-TR-12-8. (includes maps)
• Wallace, Ryan (February 28, 2011). "Open water: Break-up of sea ice in McMurdo Sound welcomes wildlife, nears airfield road". Antarctic Sun.
• Rejcek, Peter (February 22, 2013). "Bumpy ride: Melt issues at airfield, snow roads disrupt transportation at McMurdo". Antarctic Sun.
• "Pegasus blue ice runway" (PDF). National Science Foundation. October 2000. OP-M-52.

External links

• Drive from McMurdo to Pegasus Field, Antarctica in a Delta on YouTube