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Lepley Nunatak is a small yet conspicuous rocky nunatak located 2 nautical miles (4 km) southwest of Dendtler Island, near the inner part and eastern end of the Abbot Ice Shelf in Westarctica. The nunatak is named for Larry K. Lepley, an oceanographer of the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office, who, along with three other scientists, was marooned at this nunatak in February 1961 during a severe snowstorm. It was first sighted on 9 February 1961 from helicopters of the USS Glacier (AGB-4) and USS Staten Island (AGB-5). While the three-person field survey team was exploring surrounding area, they became trapped on the ground by severe winds and heavy snowfall causing total whiteout conditions. The team sheltered in place at the nunatak until the storm blew over, and it was later named for Larry Lepley, one of the members of the team. Photographer: Jeremy Miner |