Antarctic Explorers - Part 2
Race to the South Pole
And so the race begins with Scott and Amundsen both on their way to the South Pole.
Map of Antarctica showing the Ross Ice Shelf.
Map of Amundsen and Scott’s expeditions. Image courtesy of eyewitnesshistory.com
The expedition arrived at the eastern edge of the Ross Ice Shelf (then known as "the Great Ice Barrier") on January 14, 1911. Amundsen made his camp and named it Framheim after his ship. Think about how long it took to get there, six months by sea from Europe. Today we can move a lot faster, but it still took me four days to get here by plane! Scott’s crew arrived at Cape Evans (named after Scott’s second in command), west of Amundsen’s base on January 4th.
One of the huts built during Amundsen’s Expedition. Photo courtesy of the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge.
Both teams faced similar challenges. They were entering a cold, dangerous environment. And Antarctica was very far from anyone who could help them with more food or medical care. How long could they survive before turning back? What supplies should they take or leave at the base? What do you think they took with them? After months of preparation Scott and Amundsen’s teams were almost ready to go. They loaded hundreds of pounds of supplies onto sleds and brought animals to help. Scott’s team had horses and dogs to pull the sleds. He also had some sleds with motors. Amundsen’s team only brought dogs. These were North Greenland sled dogs, specially trained for hard work in extremely cold conditions.
A member of Amundsen’s team with sled dogs. Photo from the National Library of Norway, Picture Collection.
Using skis and dog sleds some of Amundsen’s men moved south along the Ross Ice Shelf while they planned their big move. The sent groups out in advance to leave supplies along their route. This way they could pick things up during their big push to the South Pole instead of carrying everything at once.
An early attempt to reach the pole began on September 8th, 1911, but had to be abandoned due to extreme temperatures.
Scott’s team also tried to set out supplies in advance like Amundsen. But it didn’t go as well, Scott’s horses were difficult to manage and bad weather made it hard to see. Both Amundsen and Scott knew they wouldn’t have many chances. They could only carry so much food along with them, and it wasn’t particularly tasty…
One mans daily ration of food during Scott’s British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913, including hard biscuits, sugar, and tea. Photo courtesy of the National Library of New Zealand.
While Scott’s team was still trying to prepare, Amundsen tried again. They set out on October 19, 1911. Thanks to good planning and their sled dogs they achieved their goal without any major trouble. On December 14th, 1911, the team of five men, with 13 dogs, arrived at the Pole. They had left home almost two years ago and spent nine months in Antarctica before finally achieving their goal! Their journey from their base to the Pole and back covered almost 2000 miles. Amundsen named their South Pole camp Polheim, meaning “Home on the Pole.”
Two members of Amundsen’s team at the South Pole. Photo courtesy of the London Times.
The crew left a small tent and a letter to record their accomplishment, in case they did not return safely. The letter included 'a few words to Scott, who I presume will be the first to come here after us.'
Meanwhile, Scott’s team left their base on November 1st. They struggled with supply problems and illness. When the horses had trouble with the icy conditions, the men had to work harder. The motorized sleds Scott brought also broke down in the cold. The men pulled the heavy sleds themselves but could not move very fast. Scott’s group arrived at the Pole on January 17th, 1912 (How many days earlier did Amundsen get there?). They found the tent Amundsen had left along with his letter. Sadly, Scott’s team ran low on food and got stuck in bad weather. They never made it back home.
Amundsen tent at the South Pole. Photo courtesy of the Royal Geographical Society.
Amundsen and his team returned to Framheim on January 25, 1912. The return trip was quicker! Can you figure out how long it took them to get back from the Pole? Amundsen was already a well known explorer, but his South Pole expedition made him a legend.
Amundsen’s expedition traveling to Antarctica. Photo courtesy of Time Magazine.