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Glacial History in Antarctica

Dear Lesley:

Thanks for telling Scott's story, and for all the photos. You did it better than nay other PolarTREC teacher. Scott lost the race to the South Pole (and his life) because he wouldn't use sled dogs. Englishmen didn't know how, and considered it unsporting of their Norwegian competitors to use dogs. But, Scott went all the way to Siberia to fetch the ponies. Do you think modern Antarctic researchers make anything difficult for themselves by failing to use something and/or clinging to tradition? Just wondering.
Sincerely yours, Michael Wing PolarTREC teacher Finland '09

Sun, 01/30/2011 - 10:58

Lesley Urasky

Michael, 
Thank you for the nice compliment.  I've been fascinated with the early exploration of Antarctica for a long time and have read many of their accounts.
 
As for modern exploration, the scientists are very well supported.  Most of the people in Antarctica are there solely to provide support to scientific research.  They've been very happy to give up the traditional hardships and make their lives in the field easier. 
 
Transport into and around the field is very high tech now days with a wide variety of airplanes, helicopters, and snow machines.  There is one type of equipment/supply transport that was developed for early exploration  that is still used today: the Nansen sled (named after a Norwegian, Fridjof Nansen).  Communications are virtually instantaneous with two types of radios (VHF and HF) and satellite phones.  With the advent of satellite phones, remote sites can have email.  Gone are the days of no communication for months or even years. 
 
Food is definitely more palatable.  Due to the modes of transport, food can be easily transported.  We took canned foods, frozen foods, and dried food.  We had pizzas, steak, bagels, cornish game hens, pancakes with strawberries, and traditional backpacking foods like jerky and granola bars.  I'm not sure I could have survived on a steady diet of hoosh (finely ground meat mixed with lard and reconstitued in hot water) and dried biscuits!