The First Man in Antarctica: Early Explorations
During his homeward voyage to return from the South Pole in 1912, Captain Robert Scott met his very unfortunate demise. Along with his fellow adventurers, he perished from lack of food and heat. Scott’s expedition had lost their race to be the first to the South Pole, a bitter disappointment for a man already regarded as a national hero, but their courage in the face of certain death became legendary.
Only now after researchers have spent years running studies are we able to offer information concerning the brutal Antarctica conditions facing anyone traversing the area. In Antarctica’s winter, temperatures can fall to 90 degrees Celcius below zero, with average wind speeds of 67 kilometers per hour. Scott’s team endured these circumstances and had little understanding of the true hazards they would face.
As a scientist working in the Polar Regions, Scott frequently wrote to his wife about the feelings of isolation. Even with all our modern communication skills, scientists today still feel that same sense of isolation. Scott’s memories were carried on by his wife and young son.
A relief expedition sent several months later found Scott’s body, along with letters he had written to his wife. The camp with his equipment was eleven miles away. Scott’s wife was awaiting his return in New Zealand when she learned of his death.
The letters Scott wrote to her provide tremendous historical insight. The letters that were written during the first part of his journey spoke of his great health and he loved a hearty meal. There was little mention of bitter temperatures. Instead, he spoke of how a hot meal allowed the body to recoup.
At the trip’s end, Scott’s outlook depleted along with the supply of food. Scott began to focus on the fact that the frigid weather was challenging and unrelenting. The men rationed their food and allowed themselves one hot meal followed by two days of cold meals. They had only a little food to survive during their last 11 miles.
Though Scott was one of the great explorers of his age, his last expedition seemed destined to fail. He lost the race to the South Pole to Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Scott made his appearance on January 18, 1912, while Amundsen had already been there on December 21, 1911.
Scott already maintained hero status before beginning his journey because of his expedition into the Antarctic between the years 1902 and 1904. Nearing the end of the 1912 expedition, along with Lt. Henry Bowers and Dr. Edward Wilson, he fought for survival until the very end. Unfortunately, two other men, Petty Officer Edgar Evans and Captain Lawrence Oats perished before they could make it.
When they reached 20 miles from the supply post, the explorers put back some supplies. Their supply of fuel and food was dangerously low by now. Scott’s letters instructed his wife to find love again in the event of his demise. He also spoke of seventy degrees below zero air temperatures and having nothing to provide shelter besides a flimsy tent.
In his parting letters he expressed that he did not regret the expedition that ultimately ended his life. He even mentioned that he preferred it to relaxing at home. Scott’s courage and determined attitude has given inspiration to many generations of British youngsters.
Roald Amundsen beat Captain Robert Scott’s team to the South Pole by several weeks. Captain Robert Scott perished on March 29, 1912. In 1913, “Scott’s Last Expedition” was published, chronicling his journey, as written in his journal he kept along the way.
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