At Least They Saw The Ice Before It Was Gone

10 Replies to “At Least They Saw The Ice Before It Was Gone”

1. I guess AA, American Airlines doesn’t fly to the south pole!

2. Brrr! I shivered just reading the account, which is a testament to fortitude and will power.

3. Antarctic ice is increasing in a well known phenomenon of ice caps occilating due to pole wobble.this expedition vrs the Amundsen one is why I like the Mars light expedition and because of Scott’s attitude I like the Mars one way expedition . Scott was perfectly aware that this might be a one way trip

4. That was a great headline Kate.

5. Always fascinating reading. To risk everything just to be first to plant a flag in a infinite frozen landscape. Still famous even though he failed because it turned into a tragedy. If they would have made it back safely no one would have remembered or cared. Hard way to insure a legacy for sure.

6. .
   That was a great article
   .

7. I remember researching and giving a class presentation about Amundsen and Scott in high school. I always had mixed feelings about Scott. He’s one of these admittedly brave but somewhat pig-headed Brits who just didn’t “get it”. He used shetland ponies which had to be fed with very bulky and inefficient hay and oats shipped in and skiers pulling sledges. Amundsen, with experience from the arctic, went “native” and used dogs which ate the very high energy and, at the coast, locally available food source — meat. Closer to the objective, one group of dogs was sacrificed to feed the remainder. Scott’s team wore wool and duck. Amundsen’s team wore fur. Amundsen made the dash to the pole a model of planning, innovation, adaptability and logistical savvy. Scott made it an agonizing slog. In fairness, near the end he was impeded by an unusual cold snap which increased the friction on the skis and sledge runners further slowing his progress and thereby making him even more vulnerable to the storm which finished him off. Under more normal conditions he probably would have made far better progress and, likely, survived. But then, ironically, as pointed out above, he may have disappeared as an obscure footnote in history.

8. Amundsen and his team also ate the dogs to prevent scurvy.

9. DrD;
   I read Amundsen’s bio which covers your points. An interesting aside was the universal love members of the Amundsen’s expedition had for their dogs. Amundsen fondly referred to them as ‘cupboard friends’ which was not meant in a cynical way. Yes, they did eat some of the dogs but that was reality.
   Amundsen was criticized for not attempting a rescue as he realized Scott would be in trouble. He hoped that Scott would retreat from the pole but he did not. Scott’s use of horses was considered a modern approach. British exploration technics considered ‘cutting’edge’. All these expeditions were viewed in patriotic terms. Much of the funding came from governments.
   Raul Amundsen met his own death in a rather sketchy rescue attempt in the Artic.

10. Thanks for that, CT. I’d read about that bond Amundsen and his team had with the dogs which was a bit of a departure from the doctrine (dogma? — ha ha) of the Inuit who taught them the sledding/handling skills.
    Both men were incredibly brave. But Amundsen was clearly the more effective expedition leader.