The three parties:-
The Norwegian party led by Roald Amundson had departed their base at Franheim at the Bay of Whales on September the 8th 1911 only to return because of freezing weather. They finally departed 20th October. They had reached the polar plateau at 10,000’ altitude on 21st November after ascending steep and crevassed glaciers through the Trans Antarctic Mountains over the previous four days (10 days had been expected). Once at the polar plateau they had planned to leave one of the four sleds behind. The meat from the surplus dogs was to supplement the diet of men and the remaining dogs…
On 1st November the South Pole march began for Scott. Sixteen men set out with ponies and dogs for the Barrier stage of the journey to the Beardmore Glacier. The motor-sledges had been used to lay depots and had been abandoned on the 2nd November at Corner Camp after irepairable breakdown. The drivers continued on laying depots by man-hauling the sleds. Here the plan was to have the dogs return to base. The ponies would be shot for food. Then twelve men in three groups would ascend the glacier and cross the polar plateau man-hauling. Only one group would carry on to the pole. The composition of the final polar group would be decided by Scott during the journey.
In the days leading up to the 22nd Scott’s ponies were troublesome but managing but because of the later start Scott was 580 km behind Amundson….
Sledging Ration for British Party (per man per day).
450g biscuits
340g Pemmican (beef extract with 60% pure fat cooked into a thick tasty soup)
85g Sugar
55g Butter
20g tea
17g cocoa
The MS Aurora with Captain John Davis, had arrived at Hobart from England on 4th November. The ship was busy being provisioned and repaired for the sailing date of 2nd December. Mawson supervised newly arrived expeditioners packing and labelling stores and equipment and loading. Coal was also bunkered. Key equipment loaded included an air –tractor sledge, two wireless plants, a motor launch and sufficient petrol and benzene.
The objective of the Mawson expedition is to establish a radio station at Macquarie Island and scientific studies, investigate more than 3000km of unmapped Antarctic coastline including establishing 3 stations from which expeditions can be launched.
 |
| Air-Tractor Sledge (Grasshopper) |
18th December 1911.
SITREP 27. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1400km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 89 deg 58’ 20”
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Sunny with slight breeze. Temperature – not stated.
REMARKS: We are finished here, we have taken observation every hour around the clock. It is very difficult to arrive at a definitive result but we can say with certainty we are south of 89 deg 59’. We have boxed in the remaining few seconds of arc. We leave here this evening at 7.00pm with 1400km to Framheim and henceforth we will use the night to travel so that we have the sun behind us. We have pitched our little tent and the Norwegian flag and the ‘Fram pennant’ fly from the top of the tent pole. We have deposited in the tent my sextant, a hypsometer, 3 reindeer fur foot bags, some kamikks and mittens and other miscellaneous items. I have left a folder with a letter to the King and a few words to Scott, who I must assume will be the first to visit this place after us. We have fixed a plate on which we have written our names. – And so farewell dear Pole – we won’t meet again.
Roald A.
SITREP 27. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 40. 84 deg 34’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 22.5km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -Overcast with snow. Evening temperature – 24 deg C.
REMARKS: Had gone 13 km by lunch and was at 4000’. Marched between 8.20 and 1pm. Good surface at first then the ice got very rugged with sword-cot splits. On our right we had a good view of Adams Marshal and Wild mountains which have very interesting geology – very curious horizontal stratification, we found fragments of sandstone and basalt. This morning all our gear was fringed with ice crystals which looked very pretty. We camped at 4500’. After lunch got on some very tough stuff within a few hundred metres of pressure ridge. Late the glacier opened out to a broad basin with irregular undulations that provided good and bad surface. Made 9.5 km in afternoon so 22.5 all up. The Eastern side of glacier was clouded in all day and barely got to see the western side. Still sweating horribly on the march and very thirsty at the halts.
Robert S.
SITREP 27. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Lat 55 deg S Macquarie Island - Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: not stated.
REMARKS: Work has continued on building the station and the wireless facility on the island. Work on the wireless mast, the engine hut and the operating hut is providing plenty of work. Hurley, Harrison and Hutchinson returned today. After leaving on the 13th the group camped at The Nuggets on the first night, and due to low cloud and rain overshot Caroline Cove and camped near the coast on the 2nd night, Hurly getting some photos. On the 15th they recovered the lens but also killed a wandering albatross that they carried for a specimen. Camping at Lusitania Bay in an old hut in the next night. Hurley had worn out his shoes and had damaged his ankle so was unable to walk normally. King penguin eggs were collected from Lusitania Bay to add to their load. They camped near the Nuggets and arrived back at the north end huts by 9.00am.
Douglas M.
17th December 1911.
SITREP 26. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 89 deg 58’ 20”
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 10km
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Sunny with slight Westerly breeze. Temperature - Day -29.5 deg C, evening -31.5 deg C.
REMARKS: Another remarkable day. Fine weather with a burning sun high in the heavens we struck camp this morning and set off for the pole point. Bjaaland’s sledge was left behind and he appointed himself forerunner, I followed behind to see how he managed to keep to the course. It was a pure pleasure to see him keep to his course. He moved as if he had a marked line to follow. By 11am we had travelled our 10km, we stopped and pitched our tent. At 11.30 started observations, by 8.00pm we have the most peculiar results. The sun remained at 46 deg 4’ from 11.30 to 1.00pm then rose to 46 deg 6’ 50”until 4.00pm, then rose to 46 deg 9’ 30” and has remained there since. We are on 105 deg E of Greenwich meridian at 89 deg 58’ 20”. Hannson and Bjaaland have continued to cover the remaining 1’ 40” and marked the spot with a pennant. We will take sights all nite as these results are rather odd. All in all we must consider this place the pole. We will pitch our little tent here tomorrow and leave northward. Boiling gave an altitude of 11,000’asl. So here we are at the South Pole – an enormous flat plain. The sun is moving round the horizon and shines and warms from the cloudless sky. It is calm this evening and so peaceful. All the dogs are lying stretched out in the heat of the sun and enjoying life despite poor rations. – apparently in good condition. We have all used the telescope industriously to see if there is any sigh of life in any direction – but in vain. We are the first here alright. Today we had a good cigar which Fru Rambek sent Bjaaland for Christmas.
Roald A.
SITREP 26. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 39.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 20km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -A fine day. Temperature – 24 deg C.
REMARKS: Soon after starting we found ourselves in rather a mess, bad pressure ahead and long waves between us and the land. Blue ice showed on crests of the waves, very soft snow lay in the hollows. We had to cross the waves 10 from crest to hollow and we did this by sitting on the sledge and letting her go. Momentum carrying us part way up the other side and then a fearfully tough drag to the next crest. After 2 hours and a large wave the blue ice though steep provided excellent travelling. Topped the pressure ridge and after lunch continued over snow covered ice with crevasses with legs frequently down. Stuck to the centre of the glacier with good results and camped at 6.30.Height about 3500’ above Barrier. As we march there is an increasing error in the charting of various points. Shackleton’s watch must have altered its rate which throws everything out.. Everyone is very fit and very cheerful, feeling well fed and eager for more toil. Eyes are much better except poor Wilson’s, he caught a very bat attack. Were very hot again this morning, our lips are very sore. We cover them with soft silk plaster which seems the best thing. We get fearfully thirsty and chip up ice on the march as well as drinking a great deal of water on halting. Our fuel only just does it, but that is all we want and we have a bit in hand for the summit. We have worn crampons all day and are delighted with them.
Robert S.
SITREP 26. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Lat 55 deg S Macquarie Island - Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: not stated.
REMARKS: Work has continued on building the station and the wireless facility on the island. Work on the wireless mast, the engine hut and the operating hut is providing plenty of work.
Douglas M.
16th December 1911.
SITREP 25. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 89 deg 56
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 9km
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Sunny and calm with a little haze. Temperature - Day -30 deg C, evening -30 deg C.
REMARKS: We turned out at 12 midnight to take an altitude. Calculations gave us 89 deg 56’. At 2.30am three men went in different directions (N,E & W) out about 18km where they placed a post with a black flag and a small bag with a note enclosed with directions to our ‘Polheim’ (tent at the pole) pointing to the pole. Hannson and I remained behind to take observations @ 6 hours. To my surprise the 6am observation gave a much lower altitude that that at midnight. During our march from Lat 88 deg S we had clearly deviated from our meridian (Longitude). Now it was a matter of finding which meridian we were on. We started taking hourly sights both with glass and mercury horizon. Luckily the weather held and we were able to get good sights. Both instruments agreed well but it was 5.30pm – Framhiem time- that we found our meridian. We had strayed to the 123rd meridian east of Greenwich. Not so odd at these directions where one cannot establish ones direction. The meridian site gave us 89 deg 54’ 38” and a compass bearing to the pole as NW. Tomorrow we set of for the exact point of the pole about 10km WNW. We take two sledges, Whistling gets Bjaaland’s sledge and 4 dogs and Hannsen gets the other 2 dogs. One sledge with sledge meter will be left behind. The three men returned at about 10.00pm after placing their posts. Helge, who was killed yesterday, was gulped down with gusto by her comrades. We now have food for humans for 18 days and for dogs 10. Bjaarland says we have too little chocolate. I think we will be alright back to our depot at 88 deg 25’ and from there to Devils Glacier. It is quite interesting to see the sun wander round the heaven at so to speak the same altitude day and night. I think somehow we are the first to see this curious sight.
Roald A.
SITREP 25. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 38. 84 deg 8’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 18km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -Overcast in the morning clearing to a fine day. Temperature – not stated.
REMARKS: A gloomy morning but light held good for travelling. The going has been very hard after yesterday’s snow. We started at 700am, lunched at 12.15 and marched to 6.30 – over 10 hours on the march. We started off on ski as usual, Evan’s team hampering us a bit. 2 hours after lunch we struck a particularly difficult surface – old hard sastrugi underneath, with pits and high soft sastrugi due to recent snowfalls. The sledges were often brought up and so we decided to take to our feet. Legs broke through the brittle crust every few steps. We drew up a slope and on this surface and discovered an ice fall across our track. I presume it is the same pressure which caused Shackleton to turn toward Cloudmaker. We made for that mountain and soon got onto hard, crevassed undulating ice with snow in the hollows. We shall look for a moraine and try and follow it up tomorrow. We must push on all we can, for we are now 6 days behind Shackleton all due to that wretched storm. The crevasses have not been as large as alarming as expected, certainly the dogs could have come this far. At present one gets terribly hot and perspiring on the march and quickly cold when halted. It is very difficult to know what to do about the ski, their weight is considerable and yet under certain circumstances are extraordinarily useful. Everyone is very satisfied with our summit ration. The party which has been man hauling for so long say they are far less hungry than they used to be. It is good to think that the majority will keep up this good feeding all through.
Robert S.
Note: This is Scott’s 2nd attempt at the pole. On his first expedition in 1901 Shackleton, Wilson (his current doctor) and he got to within 850km from the pole. Scott and Shackleton didn’t get on. Shackleton mounted his own expedition in 1907 and got to within about 150 km of the pole. Scott is now following Shackleton’s route.
SITREP 25. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Lat 55 deg S Macquarie Island - Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: not stated.
REMARKS: Work continued on building the station and the wireless facility on the island. Pits were dug for dead man anchors for the wireless mast and the engine hut and the operating hut is providing plenty of work.
Douglas M.
15th December 1911.
SITREP 24. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 89 deg 37
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 30km
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Fine in morning then clouding over with a fresh SE breeze. Temperature - Day -29.5 deg C, evening -30.5 deg C.
REMARKS: So we arrived and were able to raise our flag at the geographic south pole – King Hakon VII’s Vidda. Everyone was together when we planted the flag. Thanks be to God. The time is 3pm when this happened. Skiing partly good and partly bad today – quite flat and without what one might call sastrugi. We arrived with 17 dogs and 3 sledges. Hannson put down one just after arrival ‘Helge’’ was worn out. We have had our celebratory meal – a little piece of seal meat, biscuits, pemmican and chocolate. We are not exactly at 90 deg but because of excellent observations are very close (Amunsdens first observation at midnight had him 5.5km from the pole). Tomorrow we will go out in 3 directions and circle the area around the pole.
Roald A.
SITREP 24. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 37. 84 deg 8’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 19km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -Cloud building from SE with snow showers in the evening. Temperature – not stated.
REMARKS: Got away at 8.00 marched till 1.00. The surface improving and the snow cover thinning however sleds difficult to move once stopped yesterday and this morning. Evans’ is now decidedly the slowest unit, though Bowers’ is not much faster. This afternoon we were able for the first time to start by giving one good heave together, and so for the first time we were able to readjust our footgear and do other desirable work. Meant to camp at 6.30 but before 5.00 the sky came down with falling snow from the SE with all the symptoms of our pony wreaking storm, we couldn’t see and pulling became very heavy. So we camped early – another interrupted march. The lower part of this glacier is not very interesting, except Mount Kyffen little bare rock is visible.
Robert S
.
Note: Leaving the Lower Glacier Depot on 11th December, additional to the current week’s food, the sledges included 18 weekly summit units and 18 cans of oil as well as additional biscuits, lighting spirit and Christmas fare. These rations had been packed by Bowers and one unit fed 4 men for 1 week. With 8 men there was 9 weeks of rations carried.
SITREP 24. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Lat 55 deg S Macquarie Island - Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N to NE wind.
REMARKS: The ‘Tora’, with extra passengers off the ‘Clyde’ weighed anchor and departed today. With the ships unloaded all effort was directed to the work building the station and the wireless facility on the island.
Douglas M.
14th December 1911.
SITREP 23. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 89 deg 37
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 30km
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Fine all morning with cloud and snow showers in the afternoon, wind SE breeze. Temperature - Day -30.5 deg C, evening -30.5 deg C.
REMARKS: A good fix taken before the cloud came in. We now lie 28km from the pole. The dogs are so hungry they eat their own crap, and if they can get at it they eat the lashing on the sledges and bite deep into the wood. Somehow they move along but have to taste whip and whip handle. The excitement is great. Shall we see the English flag – God have mercy on us I don’t believe so.
Roald A.
SITREP 23. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 35.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 19km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -Morning was fine, overcast in evening with wind blowing up the glacier. Temperature – Day -10.5 deg C, evening –10.5 deg C
REMARKS: Indigestion and soggy cloths kept me awake during last night and the exceptional exercise gives bad attacks of cramp. Our lips are getting raw and blistered, the eyes of the party are improving. The pulling is better today. We swapped sledges with Bowers and pulled it easily whilst they made heavy work of ours. I am afraid Cherry-Garrard and Keohane are the weakness of that team. We lunched together and camped at 6.30. We got fearfully hot on the march, sweated through everything and stripped off jerseys. The result is we are pretty cold and clammy now, but escape from the soft snow and a good march compensates every discomfort. Snow depth is decreasing and blue ice is only 300mm below the surface. There are small crevasses in the ice now – some close to the tents. It is splendid to be getting along and to find some adequate return for the work we are putting into the business.
Robert S.
SITREP 23. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Lat 55 deg S Macquarie Island - Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N to NE wind.
REMARKS: Unloading of the ‘Tora’ continued all day and after a short break for lunch and 16 hours of work the job was done. Wild stayed ashore last night and his men have been busy working the flying fox. Moving equipment from the spit to the foot of North Head and then via flying fox to the summit. The flying fox operates by filling a bag with soil at the top just heavier than the weight of the object to be lifted. As the bag descends the load is carried upward.
Douglas M.
13th December 1911.
SITREP 22. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 89 deg 30’ 30”
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 28km
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Fine, calm, sunny. Temperature - Day -31 deg C, evening -32 deg C.
REMARKS: Our best day up here for weather, going and terrain the same. The crust is hard and the sledges and doggies sink very little. The hypsometer still showing descending very gently, it must be assumed we have passed the highest part of the plateau and are descending the other side. Obs and dead reckoning agree brilliantly. We can only trust the 'Fram' sextant, the other one experiencing a blow and is now unreliable. Hannson, Whistling and I share the ‘Fram’ sextant. Travel time 6.5 hrs.
Roald A.
SITREP 22. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 35.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 6.5km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -No mention of weather, Temperature – Day + not indicated deg C, evening -9 deg C
REMARKS: A most damnably dismal day. We started at 8 – the pulling terribly bad though the glide very good in patches with a new crust. Ski not supported and no traction without. Much energy spent in un-bogging sled and each of the teams struggled. The sledges being so heavy we resorted to relay work to get ahead. The snow had become wet and sticky in the afternoon. Camped at 7.00. We have advanced only about 6.5 km in 11 hours. Our height is 1500’. I had pinned my hopes on better conditions as we rose but it looks as if things are getting worse instead of better. We can but toil on but it is woefully disheartening. I am not at all hungry, but pretty thirsty. I find our summit ration is even too filling for the present. 2 skuas came around the camp.
Robert S.
SITREP 22. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Lat 55 deg S Macquarie Island - Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Stiff SE breeze.
REMARKS: The motor launch, after repairs from the damage during the voyage, and the ships boats were busy in the morning loading stores and wireless gear for the shore party. (Ainsworth, Blake, Hamilton, Sawyer and Sandell). After noon the 'Tora' arrived and anchored nearby. She had a straightforward voyage taking 4.5 days. She brought 17 expedition members, benzene, coal and a new whale boat and some sheep to be loaded on the Aurora and 10 ton of stores and most of 55 sheep to be put ashore. The men ashore found a site for the station and inspected a flying fox to be used to haul wireless gear the 100m up Wireless Hill. The flying fox was used by the sealers to haul blubber. With some strengthening it would be suitable for our gear. Hurley had discovered that he had left a cinematographic lens on a rock at Caroline Cove so he, Harrison (biologist) and Hutchison a sealer who acted as guide set off at midday to recover the lens.
Douglas M.
12th December 1911.
SITREP 21. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 89 deg 15’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 31.5km
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Fine, calm, partly clear. Temperature - Day -31 deg C, evening -32 deg C.
REMARKS: Same fine going and terrain, According to hypsometer we are descending gently. Possibly it is only the weather conditions that explain this. Dead reckoning once more in agreement. – 3 days to the pole. BJ whipped his dogs on to draw level with Hannson today. Oatmeal pudding this evening
Roald A.
SITREP 21. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 34.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 14km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -Morning was fine with light wind, in the evening Glacier wind (katabatic) Temperature – Day + .05 deg C, evening -5 deg C
REMARKS: We have had a hard day, in the morning it was my team which made the heaviest weather of the work. We got bogged again and again, and, do what we would, the sledge dragged like lead. The other teams were working but nothing compared to us. At 2.30 I halted for lunch, pretty well cooked, and discovered the secret to our trouble in a thin film with some hard knots on the runners. I really dreaded starting after lunch, but after some trouble breaking the sledge out, we went ahead without a hitch. At 6 I saw the other teams were flagging and so camped at 7, meaning to start out earlier tomorrow to start a better routine. We have done about 14km – the sledge meters are hopeless on such a surface. The whole of the lower valley is filled with snow from the recent storm, soft and wet. Without ski we should be hopelessly bogged. Our sledges could not be more heavily laden, we have insufficient runner surface as it is. Moreover the sledges are packed too high and therefore capsize too easily. The temperature range is remarkable between day and night. At +.5 when we started we were fully soaked through with perspiration from the hard work. Evans party kept up much better today. We had their shoes into our tent this morning, and P.O. Evans put them into shape again.
Robert S.
Scott’s party was organised into 3 teams of 4 each pulling about 100kg:
1. Scott, Wilson, Oats and Seaman Evans
2. Lieut Evans, Atkinson, Wright and Lashly
3. Bowers, Cherry-Garrard, Crean, Krohane
SITREP 21. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Lat 55 deg S Macquarie Island - Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Stiff SE breeze.
REMARKS: We steamed up the west coast and rounded North Head and anchored off North-East bay. The wreck of a schooner Jessie Nicholl and also the Clyde could be seen on the shore. The wind was still south easterly and the wash on the beach made landing impossible. Prevailing winds are normally from the west. By way of flag signals from the men on the island we learnt that the Clyde had recently been wreaked and that all were safe ashore but needing assistance to get home. We steamed back around to the west of the isthmus into Hasselborough Bay (named by Captain Davis). Mr Bauer and some other sealers put out in a boat and met the ship. At noon we dropped anchor and Ninnis and the dogs were landed then the mast for the wireless station was towed ashore.
Douglas M.
11th December 1911.
SITREP 20. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 88 deg 58’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 31.5km
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Fine, light SSE’ly breeze. Occasional mist patches, Cirrostratus with halo, Temperature - Day -33 deg C, evening -33 deg C.
REMARKS: A meridian altitude gave 1 minute less than dead reckoning. Went an extra nautical mile (1.9km) to make up for it. Terrain and going the same. We notice the hard going at altitude, we will get our breath back, if only we win. Hannson is furious at Bjaaland because he is running so slowly. Looking forward to getting down to normal altitudes some time.
Roald A.
Note: Dead reckoning is an estimate to determine a new position since the last accurate fix-
- You need the coordinates of the starting point. Compass readings need to be logged and timing of distance travelled at each heading is needed to work out speed.
- Then the accuracy of your dead reckoning is confirmed with position fixes, based on observing the positions of the Sun, Moon and stars relative to your location.
SITREP 20. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 33.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -Morning was fine and warm, some stratus cloud in the evening Glacier wind (katabatic) sprang up at about 7.00
REMARKS: A good and bad day. We built a depot before starting leaving a good deal of gear. Started at 11.00, over the glacier through a good deal of disturbance. We pulled on ski and the dogs followed. We passed over a good many crevasses. In one only, Seaman Evans dropped a leg, ski and all. By 3.00 we were clear of the pressure. The dogs were camped and their load shifted to the manhauling sledges. Mears has turned with the dogs and they are on their way back. They should get back easily, there is food all along the line. After lunch at 4.30 we continued and were able to make fairly good headway with the heavier loads. Every now and then a sledge would sink in a soft patch, which brought us up and was very tiring and trying. After a break to let the others catch up I started at 6.00 and ran on till 7.00, pulling easily without a halt at 3km/h. I was very jubilant; all difficulties seemed to be vanishing. But unfortunately our history was not repeated by the other parties. Bowers party came up half an hour after us but Evans party didn’t get up till 10.00. They started quite well but did just the wrong thing by straining again and again. It is most awfully trying – I had expected failure from the animals but not the men – I must blame Lieut. Evans much. He shows a terrible lack of judgement – instead of having his people trained & drilled he lets things go on any way….. So just as I thought we were in for making a great score, this difficulty overtakes us. The snow is soft and deep to the knees. Ski are the thing, and here are my tiresome fellow-countrymen too prejudiced to have prepared themselves for the event. A plentiful crop of snow blindness due to incaution – the sufferers Evans, Bowers, Keohane, Lashly and Oats
Robert S.
SITREP 20. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Lat 55 deg S Macquarie Island - Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Fine with SE breeze.
REMARKS: At 1am there was a magnetic disturbance, both standard and steering compass swung through 5 points for about 5 minutes. The island was sighted at 4am. With easterly winds we steamed down the west coast and as the winds were favourable it was decided to do some soundings into Caroline Cove and to send a party ashore. A boat was lowered and soundings done through the entrance and we went ashore for several hours noting the wildlife and geology. Magnetic observations were also taken. After the rough weather on the voyage down it felt like a schoolboy’s picnic. It was apparent that the cove was not suited to setting up a station. When we later joined the ship we learnt that it was slowly drifting off shore in the breeze in water 13 fathoms (24m) deep and the ship struck a rock at 4 metres depth. Luckily there was no damage. Soundings at 1km from land showed a depth of 400 fathoms (730m). We set a course for the north of the island. (1 fathom = 6 foot)
Douglas M.
10th December 1911.
SITREP 19. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 88 deg 30’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 30km
WEATHER CONDITIONS: southerly breeze, clear sky, Temperature falling - Day -33 deg C, evening -34 deg C.
REMARKS: It has been a little cool to go up wind, but nothing to make a fuss over. Terrain and going the same old kind – first class. Sledges and ski glide easily and pleasantly. But the dogs are tired, and they do not run fast, but they do run evenly, and we have covered our stipulated 30km. Another 5 days and it is our intention to arrive. The vidda does not give the impression of being enriched by strong winds. Got a splendid sun shot for position. 88 deg 30’ or 1’ more than dead reckoning.
Roald A.
SITREP 19. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 32.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -Fine day with a strong katabatic wind in evening temperature.
REMARKS: I roused everyone at 8.00 but it was noon before all the readjustments for load. The dogs carried 270kg of our weight plus the depot 90kg. It was greatly to my surprise when we – my own party – with a ‘one, two three together’ started our sledge and we found it running fairly easily behind us at about 3km/h. When reaching a steeper slope the surface got much worse and we had to take our skis off. The pulling after this was extraordinarily fatiguing. We reached the top of the slope at 5.00 and after tea on the down grade. On this we almost had to pull as hard but could just get along on ski. We camped at 9.15 when a heavy wind coming down the glacier suddenly fell on us. Evans’ party could not keep up, and Wilson told me some very alarming news concerning it. It appears that Atkinson says that Wright is getting played out and Lashly is not as fit as he was owing to the heavy pulling since the blizzard. I have not felt satisfied with this party and very dissatisfied with its management. They fell along way behind. It is a very serious business if the men are going to crack up. As for myself, I never felt fitter and my party can easily hold its own. We are camped in soft snow, the worst I have ever seen it. Every step sinks to the knees and the uneven surface is obviously insufficient to support the sledges. All this soft snow is an aftermath of our prolonged storm. Hereabouts Shackleton found hard blue ice. It seems an extraordinary difference in fortune and at every step Shackleton’s luck becomes more evident. I take the dogs tomorrow and then we sent them home. We have to add 90kg to each sledge from the dog sledge which will make the hauling more difficult if present conditions hold.
Robert S.
SITREP 19. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Southern Ocean 196 km north of Macquarie Island
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Overcast, Wind and seas abating.
REMARKS: A fine day was a welcome change to all hands. From good observations our position at noon was 196km from the north end of Macquarie Island.
Douglas M.
9th December 1911.
SITREP 18. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 88 deg 25’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil - rest day
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Fine and sunny in morning, overcast with cirrus cloud in the afternoon, light SE breeze, Temperature falling - Day -29 deg C, evening -31 deg C.
REMARKS: Stayed put today, rested and prepared for the final onslaught. We built a depot to lighten the load in 2 sledges by 50kg each. HH keeps his sledge unchanged, BJ leaves 42.5kg dog and human pemmican and W unloaded a case of 2200 biscuits. 11.5g kg pemmican, a tin of alcohol and a ball of string. The depot was marked with packing case planks @ 100m intervals for 5 km east and west. Each second plank was marked with a black pennant. The planks to the east have a notch cut into them to help locate the depot on the return trip. Bj’s dogs have weakened a lot recently and one of W’s dogs (The Major – a steady old dog) disappeared overnight, presumably to die. The dogs have begun to be quite dangerous and must be considered as mortal enemies when one leaves the sledge. Oddly enough they have not tried to break in. We leave here with supplies for 30 days for humans and 20 days for dogs. Three of us look quite awe inspiring since our faces were frost bitten in the SE storm a few days ago.
Roald A.
SITREP 17. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 31.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - temperature -7 deg C.
REMARKS: The weather slowly improved overnight. All up at 5.30 and made a start with the ponies at 8.00. The surface was intolerably soft. We pressed on with the half fed animals. None of them would lead and the man haulers were pressed into helping for a mile or two. It looked like we could never make headway when Evans put the last pair of snow shoes on Snatcher. From then he went on without much pressing, the other ponies followed. We went on all day without lunch. The man haulers after helping had to go back and then haul up their sledge. They were at it for 15hours and were dead cooked by the time they reached camp. At 8pm we reached within a couple of kilometres of the ascending slope to the gap which Shackleton called the Gateway. The ponies were quite done only coming on a few hundred metres at a time. By this time I was hauling ahead, a ridiculously light load, yet finding the pulling heavy enough. We camped and the 5 ponies have been shot. Poor beasts they have done wonderfully well. Someone has called it the killing of the innocents. The dogs are going well in spite of the surface, but here again one cannot get the help one would wish. I cannot load the animals heavily on such snow. The scenery is most impressive, 3 huge pillars of granite form the right buttress of the Gateway, and a sharp spur of Mt Hope to the left. In spite of some doubt in our outlook, everyone is very cheerful tonight and jokes are flying freely around.
Robert S.
SITREP 17. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Southern Ocean Lat 49 deg 56’ S, Lon 152 deg 28’E
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Overcast, Wind and seas abating.
REMARKS: Made steady progress today. We were joined by whale birds earlier in the voyage but now as the winds have abated we have also been joined by the majestic wandering albatross, sooty albatross and mollymawks following in our wake. Whales were observed spouting in the distance.
Douglas M.
8th December 1911.
SITREP 17. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 88 deg 25’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 37km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Heavy snowfall, no horizon definition but the wind from NE had dropped visibility nil. By midday cloud was lifting and wind light from the S, by late afternoon sun was shining. Day -27 deg C, evening -28 deg C.
REMARKS: One of our big days. Terrain and going of the best kind, skiing absolutely A1. We had gone 13km and were at 86 deg 16’S by dead reckoning. We had not had an observation since 86 deg 16’ (10 days ago), the cloud began to clear and at 11.15am. We got a glimpse sun, we shot her – we made no mistake – and the result – Well it was almost exactly 86 deg 16’S. A brilliant victory after 1.5 degrees march in thick fog and snow drift. In other words observation and dead reckoning agreed to a minute. Later in the day we took 2 separate observations at different times for compass variation with the same result. So we are ready to take on the pole in any weather. I had given HH (the leading sledge) our flag pole to hoist when Shackleton’s record of 88 deg 23’ was crossed. I was the forerunner and was having difficulty with my snow goggles fogging when I heard a stout hearty cheer behind me. The sun was breaking through cloud and there were only light airs from the S. When I turned round the brave well-known colours were flying from the first sledge. The sun broke through and illuminated in a lovely manner the beautiful little flag – a present from Helland-Hansen and Nordahl Olsen. My goggles clouded over again, but this time it was not the south winds fault. We congratulated each other and took a photo and continued on. Sunshine and almost calm at camp. Pure summer in the tent and everything has dried in a few hours. No change in altitude during the day. The snow is deep and loose and it was difficult to find a place to pitch the tent. The dogs are quite ravenous- eat anything they can get hold of – especially the lashings on the sledge. Therefore we must strip the sledges bare at night. Extra chocolate to honour the occasion. Tomorrow a rest day
Roald A.
SITREP 17. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 30. Lat 83 S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Thick blowing snow but signs of breaking by afternoon when the temperature dropped and light airs, temperature +0.5 deg C, evening -3deg C.
REMARKS: Woke to mournfullest snow and wind as usual. By midday the wind had dropped. We set about to dig out sledges, we moved the tents leaving deep pits with hollowed in wet centres. Evens and his man haulers on ski to everyone’s surprise pulled a loaded sledge this afternoon with 4 people on it. Without ski they sunk to their knees. The snow is terribly deep. We tried Nobby and he plunged to his belly in it. Oats thinks there is another march in the ponies if the weather is fine tomorrow. If not we must kill the ponies tomorrow and get on the best we can with men on ski and the dogs. But one wonders what the dogs can do on such a surface. I much fear that they will also prove inadequate. By 11.00pm the temperature has dropped and the wind is from the north. The water nuisance is already abating. There is good cheer in the camp tonight in the prospect of action. Everything looks more hopeful tonight but nothing can recall the lost days.
Robert S.
SITREP 17. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Southern Ocean Lat 49 deg 56’ S, Lon 152 deg 28’E
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Wind and seas abating.
REMARKS: With the weather clearing we were able to steer a course to Macquarie Island. Food preparation and eating returned to more normal arrangements. During the heavy weather the galley was deluged time and again. It was enough to dishearten the cook, repeatedly finding himself amongst kitchen debris of all kinds including pots and pans full and empty. Nor did the difficulties end in the galley, food that survived until arrival on the table was often tossed by a lurch and often ended up in a disagreeable mess on the floor or in an adjoining cabin.
Douglas M.
7th December 1911.
SITREP 16. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 88 deg 9’
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 37km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Heavy snowfall, sky and horizon melt into each other. No visibility. Day -27.5 deg C, evening -28 deg C.
REMARKS: Same weather as yesterday. Can see absolutely nothing at all. Did our 37km and passed 88 deg. tomorrow will pass Shackleton’s furthest south record. Then we will stop for a day and recuperate. Of that we are sorely in need, both men and animals – the dogs are dead tired. The terrain has much improved today. Completely flat and fine everywhere. No sustrugi but much loose snow. No change in altitude today. I think we are on the final high plain which does not quite agree with Shackleton. But possibly he did not have a hypsometer for his final spurt. Degree pudding this evening. Bjaaland says the plateau will be called Grisevidda.
Roald A.
SITREP 16. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 30. Lat 83 S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Thick blowing snow all day, temperature +0 deg C
REMARKS: The storm continues and the situation is now serious. One small feed for the ponies remains after today. So we must either march tomorrow or sacrifice the animals. That’s not the worst. This morning we started our Summit rations. That is to say we have started on the food calculated to begin from the Glacier depot. The promise of good weather died away at 3:00am when the temperature and wind rose again. I can find no sign of an end, and all of us agree that it is utterly impossible to move. Resignation to misfortune is the only attitude, but not an easy one to adopt. I cannot see that any plan would be altered if it were to do again, the margin for bad weather was ample according to all experience… Mears had a bad attack of snow blindness in one eye. I hope the rest will help him but he says it has been painful for a long time. To be here watching the wet walls of our tent, the glistening wet bamboos, the bedraggled sopping socks and loose articles dangling in the middle, the saddened countenances of my companions – to hear the everlasting patter of falling snow and the ceaseless rattle of fluttering canvas…. And to know that outside there is a blank wall of white on every side…. anyone must find our circumstances unenviable. But, one can go on striving, endeavouring to find stimulation in the difficulties that arise.
Robert S.
SITREP 16. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gale force SW wind, heavy sea.
REMARKS: For the 5th day gale force SW wind and heavy seas prevailed. The ship was hove to with the head into the wind, wallowing in the mountainous seas. A great deal of water has come on board, but consequent damage has been light. Part of the bridge was lost overboard. Some ash was washed into the bilge pump that required clearing. Pumping was done by hand and chain gearing from the after-winch while the blockage was cleared. A plug from one of the fresh water tanks was washed away and sea water entered the tank making it unusable and necessitating rationing. The deck rings holding the motor launch drew and some of its decking was damaged.
Douglas M.
6th December 1911.
SITREP 15. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Not stated
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 37km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Heavy Fog and fine snow fall all day. No visibility. Day -26 deg C, evening -27 deg C.
REMARKS: Have travelled absolutely blind all day. HH had to drive ahead with his dog team as Hass and I would come a cropper on the large sastrugi leading in this kind of weather. The devil’s own sastrugi terrain up to 2m high. Hassel and Whistling upset their loads. With little exhortation the dogs take the sledges over with flying colours. The older sastrugi runs SE-NW and the younger N-S and E-W. The dogs are in surprisingly good form. It must be due to the good pemmican and the mild weather. Bjaaland says ‘going and fussing with dogs wears you out, scanty dinner and ditto chocolate’. 37km covered. Boiling gives 10,750’
Roald A.
SITREP 15. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 30. Lat 83 S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Thick blowing snow all day, temperature +.05 deg C
REMARKS: Noon. Miserable, utterly miserable. We have camped in the ‘Slough of Despond.’ The tempest rages with unabated violence. The temperature has gone positive, everything in the tent is soaking. The snow is steadily higher about the walls, ponies, tents and sledges. The ponies look utterly desolate. Oh! But this is too crushing, and we are 19km from the glacier. A hopeless feeling descends on one and it is hard to fight off. What immense patience is needed for such occasions. At 5:00 there came signs of a break at last, and now we can see the land, but the sky is still overcast and there is a lot of snow about. It is not pleasant, but if no worse in the morning we can get off at last.
Robert S.
SITREP 15. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gale force SW wind, heavy sea.
REMARKS: For the 4th day gale force SW wind and heavy seas prevailed. The ship was hove to with the head into the wind, wallowing in the mountainous seas. Dogs as deck passengers are having a bad time. One heavy sea smashed the case of ‘Grasshopper’ Very uncomfortable on board.
Douglas M.
5th December 1911.
SITREP 14. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Not stated
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 37km.
REMARKS: Have travelled blind all day despite the weather and it has gone very well with 37km covered. The terrain with large sastrugi meant care needed to be taken to avoid capsizing, Hanssen and Wisting both capsized. In the am large stretches of ice lay between patches of sastrugi but in the afternoon we finally lost them. Left a black packing case at camp this morning. We saw the moon and the midnight sun simultaneously the other day, I have not seen this before. Boiling gives 10,200’
Roald A.
The hypsometer used by Amundsen and Scott consisted of a cylindrical vessel in which water was boiled, surrounded by a jacketed outer partition where the vapor from boiling circulates. A thermometer measures the temperature of this vapor (steam).
SITREP 14. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 30. Lat 83 S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 0 km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Blizzard conditions all day, morning -3 deg C, evening -.05 deg C
REMARKS: We awoke this morning to a raging howling blizzard with fine powdery snow. Because of the warmer temperatures it sticks, so after a couple of minutes outside one is covered from head to foot. The ponies are standing deep in snow and all parts of the ponies not protected by rugs are covered in ice – tail, head, legs... The sledges are almost covered and huge drifts are over the tents. We have had breakfast, rebuilt the walls and are now in our bags. The weather has given us more than our share of ill fortune, but lack may turn yet. I doubt if any party could travel in such weather even with the wind, certainly no one could travel against it. No foresight – no procedure – could have prepared us for this state of affairs. With the warming conditions in the afternoon the snow melted on everything it fell on, as a consequence there are pools of water on everything, the tents, wind cloths, night boots etc. are all wet through. Water drips from the tent poles and door, lies on the floor-cloth, soaks the sleeping bags, and makes everything pretty wretched. Yet after all it would be humorous enough if it were not for the seriousness of delay – we can’t afford that.
Robert S.
SITREP 14. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gale force SW wind, heavy sea.
REMARKS: For the 3rd day gale force SW wind and heavy seas prevailed. The ship was hove to with the head into the wind, wallowing in the mountainous seas. Very uncomfortable on board.
Douglas M.
4th December 1911.
SITREP 13. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: 87 deg 9’ S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 37km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: The wind backed from storm force from SE to N and eased and cleared up to a light SE breeze and crystal clear. Day -28 deg C, evening -31 deg C.
REMARKS: With the weather cleared up we lost no time in turning out and setting off. We first had to cross the Devils ballroom. Shiny bare ice with snow filled crevasses here and there. It was not difficult. But we could not ski as we had to support the sledges and help the dogs. The next section promised to be good going however a ridge rose before us and a hollow we had to go down with plenty of difficulties. The one serac after another indicated the violent turmoil that had been here. And that was soon revealed. Oops there was Whistling’s sledge with one runner down a huge crevasse. We were able to get it up again without damage. The next minute there goes all Whistling’s dogs – fell and disappeared into the crevasse. They were all hauled up again without damage. Well somehow we worked our way across and got to the top of the ridge. Again it consisted of bare ice but so filled up with hidden crevasses that one literally could not put a foot down anywhere without treading through. Luckily almost all of these crevasses were filled. Bjaaland fell through but managed to cling to his a rope on his sledge. At last we got to this ‘nether region’, and little by little we arrived at the real genuine Vidda without the disturbance of the land however there is sastrugi and it is uneven. We then had a long days march. 9800’ ASL.
(Vidda - there is no direct translation but it usually translates as plateau. The word means wild upland but also has connotations of untrammelled space and is a metaphor for escape.)
Roald A.
SITREP 13. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 30. Lat 83 S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 21km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Blizzard conditions – blowing snow, visibility less than 100m sub zero temperatures till midday and the fine. -8 deg C
REMARKS: I roused the party at 6.00am Conditions were good for a start, wind not strong, patched of land could be faintly seen. During breakfast the wind suddenly increased in force to a regular white floury blizzard. We have all been out building fresh walls for the ponies – an uninviting task. but one which greatly adds to the comfort of the animals, who look sleepy and bored, but not at all cold. The dogs came up with us as we camped last night and the man-haulers arrived this morning, they had great difficulty following our tracks, and say they could not have steered a course without them. It is utterly impossible to push ahead in this weather. Well, one must stick it out, that is all, and hope for better things, but it makes me feel a little bitter to contrast such weather with that experienced by our predecessors.
The wind fell before noon and the sky began to clear and the sun shine. We were off by 200pm and by 8.00pm were camped after 21km to the good. Ahead of us is the ice-rounded, boulder strewn Mount Hope and the gateway to the glacier. We should reach it easily enough on tomorrows march if we can compass 19km. The ponies marched splendidly today and the dogs are simply splendid, but came wanting food so we had to sacrifice poor little Michael. All the tents are consuming pony flesh and thoroughly enjoying it. We are practically through the first stage of our journey. Tonight we get puffs of wind from the gateway, which at the moment looks uninviting.
Robert S.
SITREP 13. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gale force SW wind, heavy sea.
REMARKS: Gale force SW wind and heavy seas prevailed. The ship was hove to with the head into the wind, wallowing in the mountainous seas.
Douglas M.
3rd December 1911.
SITREP 12. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Not stated
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 3.7km. (Amundsons lead has dropped to 430km)
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Clear then SE storm with snow and fog. Day -28 deg C, evening -31 deg C.
REMARKS: Had decided on a rest day but when the wind eased during a.m. we agreed to give it a try. To reduce our loads, we left all our fur clothing at camp before leaving however we kept our anorak hoods which we cut off our anorak’s . After taking a latitude observation we set off. We might as well have remained where we were as it soon began to blow again. A full storm was blowing from the SE, we couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces. A dangerous change in terrain occurred, due to great pressure, the ice had broken into huge crevasses filled with snow, however on either edge of the crevasses the snow is rather thin and dangerous. After several dangerous stretches in thick fog we had to give up and made camp on the hard ice. Boiling point this evening gave 9500’ ASL.
Roald A.
SITREP 12 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 29. Lat 83 S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: about 18km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Snow and storm force winds.
REMARKS: Our luck in weather is preposterous. I roused the hands at 2.30am, intending to get away at 5. It was thick and snowy, yet we could have got on. At breakfast the wind increased, and by 4.30am it was blowing a full gale from the south. The pony wall blew down, huge drifts collected, and the sledges were quickly buried. It was the strongest wind I have known here in summer. Things cleared up and by 1:30pm, there was bright sunshine. We were off at 2pm with good visibility to land all round. At 2.15 I saw the SE cloud spreading up, it blotted out the land 50 km away by 2.30 and by 3.00 it was upon us. The sun went out, snow fell thickly and marching conditions were horrible. The wind direction changed rapidly from SE through S and then W to the NNW after the onset. In spite of the difficulties we have managed to get 18km south. Bowers and I were on ski and we steered by compass, the drifting snow across our ski. The whole weather conditions seem thoroughly disturbed, and if they continue so when we were on the glacier, we shall be very awkwardly placed.
Robert S.
SITREP 12. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Southern Ocean
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not indicated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gale force SW wind, heavy sea.
REMARKS: We came out of Storm Bay into a fresh SW wind and heavy sea. We had a heavy roll all day although the wind was well abaft the beam. In order to make Macquarie Island it was important not to allow the prevailing westerly wind to drive the ship too far to the east. So the ship was hove to with the head into the wind, wallowing in the mountainous seas. There was concern that the considerable amount of deck cargo due to overloading was at risk of being washed overboard. All men from the land parties were placed on watches to help the crew check ropes and cargo.
Douglas M.
2nd December 1911.
SITREP 11. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel. POSITION: Not stated
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 24km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: SE storm force winds with thick drift and snow. No visibility.
REMARKS: The ‘vidda’ over which we are now travelling resembles a frozen sea - a domed cupola of ice. Covered by quite small, covered crevasses. A few minor sastrugi here and there. excellent conditions for a skater, but unfortunately unsuitable for our dogs and ourselves. I drag myself with my sticks ahead on skis. It is not easy. The dog drivers are off their skis at the side of their sledges, ready to help the animals. When they can no longer grip with their claws. This is how it has been for most of the day. Added to that the weather, we have travelled blind today, we are almost unrecognisable from frostbitten faces. Some have huge, hard cheeks, others have had to sacrifice noses or chins. It has been an unpleasant day stormy, drift and frostbite. Boiling gave 9300’ asl. We are constantly climbing. Bjaaland described the men’s appearance ‘our faces were white and hard as wax candles. The Chief’s nose is like that of a country bumpkin, Whistling’s jaw looks like the snout of a Jersey cow. Hilmer has thick scabs and skin as rough as a file.’
Roald A.
SITREP 11 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.POSITION: Camp 28. Lat 83 S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: about 16km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Snow with poor surface and horizon definition -8 deg C.
REMARKS: Started under very bad weather conditions. All day we march in falling snow and horrible light. The ponies went poorly on the first march but much better on the second as the surface and glide improved. Sad to have to order Victors end as food is running out -poor Bowers feels it. He is in excellent condition and will provide 5 feeds for the dogs. We have all taken to horse meat and are so well fed that hunger isn’t thought of. Tomorrow another pony will be shot. The dogs are doing splendidly and tomorrow they will take a heavier load. I took several photos of the ponies plunging along. Everything looks well if the weather will only give us a chance to see our way to the glacier. Wild, in his diary of Shackletons Journey, remarks on December 15th, that it is the first day for a month that he could not record a splendid weather. With us a fine day has been an exception so far. It was so warm when we camped that the snow melted as it fell, and everything got sopping wet. Oats came into my tent yesterday, exchanging with Cherry Garrard.
The tents now: Self, Wilson, Oats and Keohane. Bowers, PO Evans, Cherry and Creen. Man Haulers: Evans, Atkinson, Wright and Lashly.
Evens on that day records that he visited Mears
Robert S.
SITREP 11. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Mild conditions ahead of an approaching SW change. Pressure was falling.
REMARKS: At 4pm the Aurora left the wharf and as the ship drew away, ringing cheers from the vast crowd wished god speed to the first Antarctic Expedition under Australian leadership. We were honoured to receive a message of kind wishes for success from Queen Alexandra. We had earlier received one from the King. HMS Fantome and several steamers had dressed ship for the occasion. 14 of us expeditioners were on board and with the ships company 25 all up. We glided out into the channel where our supply of dynamite and sporting cartridges were taken on board then steamed down the river to the Nubeena Quarantine Station to take the 38 dogs on board. They were in good condition having been exercised and well fed. Before leaving the shelter of the land we needed to make sure that things were lashed down securely. We had been warned by Mr Hunt the Commonwealth Meteorologist to expect fresh SW’ly winds. After leaving cape Frederick Henry the forecast proved correct. About 8.45 pm the following message was signalled by the Morse lamp to the station at Mt Nelson: ‘Everything snug on board: ready for anything. 'Good bye.
Douglas M.
1st December 1911.
SITREP 10. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Not stated
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gales overnight from SE, more drift and almost no visibility.
REMARKS: Had planned a rest day but when the wind eased decided to see how far we could go. The overnight gales had swept large areas of the glacier absolutely bare. It looked really gruesome. We had left our crampons at the ‘Butcher Shop’. Without them climbing on ice is supposed to be impossibility. I thought the pole would be lost due to such an idiotic blunder. But we went inch by inch, foot by foot, sledge length by sledge length in all directions round huge open chasms and treacherous crevasses on the verge of collapsing. But we managed to get to the spot we reached last night and from there, despite the fog, gale and drift after a long time were able to steer directly south. We were climbing quite gently and gradually the huge chasms were now filled with snow. The crevasses ebbed out little by little until we reached the plateau where they stopped completely. On the plateau big haycock-like mounds were strewn about in all directions, some as high as a man. The whole foundation is of bare rather finely cracked ice, broken by big sastrugi running SE-NW. We have not been able to see the immediate surroundings, but we know with certainty that we are past the glacier, and we are in a party mood. At camp we are 9100’ asl and on the ‘Vida’. The going up here is much better for the dogs, and they are moving along splendidly. In three days we have travelled 44km across the Devil’s Glacier without loss of men or animal.
Roald A.
SITREP 10 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 27.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: about 16km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Sunny at first the overcast with stratocumulus cloud.
REMARKS: The ponies are tiring pretty badly, yet they are outlasting the forage, and tonight against some opinion I decided Christopher must go. He has been shot; less regret goes with him than the others, in remembrance of all the trouble he gave at the outset, and the unsatisfactory way he has gone of late. According to Evans he was tender enough. Mears had provided his tent with a fine piece of undercut. Here we leave a depot so that no extra weight in brought on the other ponies. Three more marches ought to bring us through. With seven crocks (ponies) and the dog teams we must get through I think. The men alone ought not to have the heavy loads on the surface, which is extremely tiring. Nobby was tried with snow-shoes this morning, and came along splendidly on them for about 4 miles, then the wretched affairs racked and had to be taken off. There is no doubt that these snow-shoes are the thing for ponies, and had ours been able to use them from the beginning they would have been very different in appearance at the moment. Land is visible but dull and a fine glacier descends from Mt Longstaff.
Robert S.
SITREP 10. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Tomorrow we sail. For the transport requirements of the Macquarie Island base, the SS Tora, a small steam-packet of 120 tons, trading between Melbourne and Tasmania was chartered. The Tora is well provided with passenger accommodation so will bring the majority of the land party as far as Macquarie Island. The Tora was to leave Hobart several days after the Aurora, to allow us time, before her arrival to inspect the island and choose a site for the base.
Douglas M.
30th November 1911.
SITREP 9. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: better than Lat 86 deg 21min S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: more than 9 km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Fog cleared over night to clear sunny sky. Day temperature – 31 deg C, evening temperature -302 deg C.
REMARKS: The clear weather enabled a better fix on the heights of the mountains in 'G' and 'H' ranges. The highest in 'G' range about 12000’ and in 'H' range about 20000’ We have not gone fast today – all of 9km. The Devil’s Glacier has lived up to its name. One has to move 2 miles to cover one. Chasm after chasm, abyss after abyss has to be circumvented. The dogs and the drivers struggle and it is tiring for us who go ahead. Hannson, Hassell and I went out after setting up camp to survey tomorrow’s route. The terrain wasn’t any better – some places worse.
Roald A.
SITREP 9 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 26.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: about 16km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Low stratus early then cleared.
REMARKS: A very pleasant day for marching, but a very tiring one for the poor animals, which, with the exception of Nobby are showing signs of failure all round. The surface was worse today, ponies sinking to their knees. In spite of the sun there was not much glide, it was like ground glass. We were slower by half an hour or more than yesterday. Except that the loads are light now and there are still 8 animals left. Things don’t look very pleasant. The dogs are reported as doing very well. They are going to be a great standby, no doubt.
Robert S.
SITREP 9. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Final preparations and loading. The ship now loaded and only last minute matters to be attended to before departure on the 2nd Dec. Loaded on board the Aurora is 150 tons of stores and 386 tons of coal.
Douglas M.
29th November 1911.
SITREP 8. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: better than Lat 86 deg 21min S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: more than 11 km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Calm early and mild with some sunshine then snow and Fog, Fog, and Fog again. Visibility to 2m in fog. Day temperature – 29 deg C, evening temperature -30.5 deg C.
REMARKS: Deep and sticky snow all day, fine crystals makes the going impossible. Poor beasts, they have struggled hard to get the sledges forward today. Impenetrable weather is the worst of all. Passed under a huge mountain range that appeared out of the fog, it has been named F range. As we were building a depot after covering 11km another mountain range appeared out of the fog which has been called G range. A huge glacier we have called Devil’s Glacier, lies between the mountain ranges and another monstrous glacier is in our path. Bjaaland noted that when the fog lifted the mountains and glacier came through in the most wonderful tints, no artist could achieve anything so magical. Using the telescope a bearing was taken on a path through, before the fog closed in again. The depot at Lat 86 deg 21’ has a black box on top and contains enough food for 5 men for 6 days and 18 doggies for 5 days. With land and difficulties ahead it was necessary to lighten the sledges. We soon arrived at the glacier in the thickest fog, and advanced as best we could. On all sides there were masses of greater or lesser crevasses, together with enormous chasms, we had to inch our way through. Hass and I went together roped up and the three others followed. It went far better than expected, despite the complete darkness we were working in – only one narrow escape for Whistling who nearly fell off a collapsing snow bridge. After climbing a few hundred feet we were forced to make camp with crevasses and chasms on all sides. The wind was calm and sun was shining and it felt warm despite the temperature. We made 200’ today, elevation 8400’
Roald A.
SITREP 8 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.POSITION: Camp 25.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: about 23km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Low stratus early then cleared.
REMARKS: Land showed up late yesterday, Mt Markham, a magnificent triple peak. We did our march in good time, leaving at 4.20 and getting to this camp at 1.15. About 7.5 hours and our speed averages about 3km per hour. The afternoon sun very warm and bright. The ponies are tired but I believe they have 5 days work in them. Chinaman made 4 meals for the dogs and we can count on every other pony as a similar asset. It follows that the dogs can be employed, rested and fed well on the homeward track. The surface continues to be difficult, particularly for the ponies. The sun helped the surface for the men hauling. The ponies are cunning stopping every time the driver pauses. They eat snow every few minutes. Two of the ponies follow in the tracks of the others without being led. This is a relief as leading an animal whose everlasting attempts to eat the head rope are annoying. In Bowers tent today they had some of Chainman’s undercut in their hoosh yesterday, and say it was excellent. Have been discussing pony snow-shoes. I wish to goodness the animals would wear them – it would save them any amount of labour in such surfaces as this.
Robert S.
SITREP 8. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Preparations and loading continue. Room was found on the skids and forecastle head for the air-tractor sledge which was packed in a wooden case about 10m long with a total weight of 2000kg. The expeditioners called the air-tractor sledge ‘Grasshopper’. The motor launch with its 8hp petrol motor was also loaded. This vessel will be of great service landing stores at the southern bases. In trials on Sydney harbour it was able to reach 7 kts. Its hull has been strengthened for ice conditions.
Douglas M.
28th November 1911.
SITREP 7. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Lat 86 deg 17 min S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 29.6km.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Violent gusts at times overnight, fog and snow during the day. Day temperature – 28 deg C, evening temperature -32.5 deg C.
REMARKS: Set off at 8:00am fog and snow with a little sun now and then. Passed close to mountains to the east and ridges to the west but only saw glimpses enough to take bearings. They will provide good landmarks on our return. The terrain has run up and down in huge waves. The going has varied from good to utterly bad. We camped on old hard sastrugi but filled in between with recently fallen soft snow. We have not met any obstacles on our course- but who knows? We have fallen 1000’ today quite gently and now laying at 8200’ ASL. Today we broke the Norwegian record for polar exploration beating Lat 86 deg 14 min set by Nansen in the Arctic.
Roald A.
SITREP 7 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 24.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Snow falling and drifting and keen South wind.
REMARKS: The most dismal start imaginable – thick as a hedge, snow falling and drifting. The men pulled out at 3:15am with ponies, and we followed at 4.20 just catching the party at the lunch camp at 8.30. The second march almost as horrid as the first. We could see little or nothing and the driving snow hit us stingingly on the face. The pony Chinaman – The Thunderbolt! – has been shot tonight. Plucky little chap, he had stuck it well and leaves the stage but a few days before his fellows. We have only 4 bags of forage each about 60kg left, but these should give 7 marches with the remaining animals and we are less than 145km from the Glacier. This has certainly been the most unexpected and trying summer blizzard yet experienced in this region. I only trust it is over. There is not much to choose between the remaining ponies. Nobby and Bones are the strongest, Victor and Christopher the weakest, but all should get through.
Robert S.
SITREP 7. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Preparations and loading continue. It is planned to establish a number of bases from which exploration or support can be carried out. The main base the Adelie Land Station consists of 18 men led by Mawson. The Queen Mary Land station will have 8 men led by Wild, the Macquarie Island Station will have 5 men led by Ainsworth and the Ships Party on the Aurora consists of 5 men with Davis the Master.
Douglas M.
27th November 1911.
SITREP 6. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Lat 86 deg S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Clear at times overnight, gales and thick drift in the morning. Day temperature – 29 deg C, evening temperature -31 deg C.
REMARKS: At 3:00am went out to investigate conditions. We were on a slope with a fairly steep gradient along our course. On the other hand by moving further east one had a fine, even decent and that is what we did when we set off at 8:00am in an E’ly gale with heavy drift that we could not see our hands in front of our face. We crossed another low ridge and now smooth lies the Vidda before us – without sastrugi – flat as a living room floor…in sunshine and fine weather.
We reached 86 S lat and are extremely pleased with our prospects. Today I started to take over my position of forerunner in order to make the dogs advance. This evening boiling gave 9200 ft, a decent of 800 ft today. Well now the road to the pole is clear – may we soon be there. Have built a number of cairns on the way.
Roald A.
SITREP 6 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 23.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Overcast with periods of heavy snow -11 deg C. to -17 deg C
REMARKS: Started at 3:00am. The most trying march we have had. At the mid cairn snow came down heavily with a rise in temperature and the ski became hopelessly clogged. At this time the surface was unspeakably heavy for pulling… Our forage supply necessitates that we should plug on the 21km daily under all conditions, so that we can only hope for better things. A tired animal makes a tired man, I find, and none of us are very bright now after a day’s march, though we have had ample sleep of late.
Robert S.
SITREP 6. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Preparations and loading continue. Selection of men for the expedition is the most profitable investment of time for a leader. Men chosen for the land parties were representatives of Australia, predominantly graduates of universities in Australia and New Zealand. For a polar campaign the great desideratum is tempered youth. It is the vigour, the dash and the recuperative power of youth that is so necessary to cope with the extreme discomforts and trials of such exploration, which approximate the limit of human endurance and often enough exceed it.
Among men recruited elsewhere was Frank Wild ( Sledge Master - the oldest member) who had served with Scott and Shackleton expeditions, Lieutenant Bellgrave Ninnis (Greenland dog handler) of the Royal Fusiliers, Dr Xavia Mertz (Greenland dog handler) – an expert Swiss ski runner and mountaineer and Francis Bickerton who was in charge of the air-tractor sledge.
Douglas M.
26th November 1911.
SITREP 5. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Not stated
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: 16km and lost 1000’ altitude from our 10600’ camp.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: NE winds increased to storm force easing to heavy gale with thick drift and falling snow by morning. Temperature -31 deg C by evening.
REMARKS: We were fed up with the long lie in and despite bad weather we set off. In the beginning it went badly, having to overcome huge sastrugi that was just about impossible to see. Nor did the dogs have any desire to work. They had overeaten their comrades. The sastrugi made way for smooth terrain. The going was extremely bad – sticky as glue. Because of the drift we could hardly see the dogs in front of the sledge. Around 1 o’clock they began to go more downhill and in the end they were hurtling wildly down a steep slope. It would be the work of a madman to continue this charge completely blind. We had to stop and pitch the tent on the slope. The barometer showed we had descended 1000’ and oddly enough we have lost the hacking coughs and shortness of breath experienced at the Butchers shop camp. Calmer this evening.
Roald A.
SITREP 5 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 22. Lat 81 deg 35 min S.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - Overcast then misty with the sun piercing through then snow during second march-11 deg C.
REMARKS: Marched easily to the lunch camp making 3km per hour. Leaving supplies at Middle Barrier Depot – one week for each returning unit. The walking is tiring for the men, ones feet sinking 2 or 3 inches at each step. Ponies came well on the second march. It is always rather dismal work walking over the great snow plain when sky and surface merge into one pall of dead whiteness, but it is cheering to be in such good company with everything going on steady and well.
Robert S.
SITREP 5. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Preparations and loading continue. The Aurora was refitted in England before departing for Hobart. The work was supervised by Captain Davis. Works included new and improved accommodation, a new foremast and re-rigging to that of a barquentine. Sails carried to assist in the westerlies or to provide a means of escape in case of injury to the propeller while working in pack ice. The two bladed propeller was replaced with a four blade one. Two laboratories were provided for the scientists and the wardroom was altered to accommodate 25 members. Prior to departure 48 Greenland dogs from the Danish government were loaded. Upon sailing captain Davis advised that they barked in a manner expressive of strong displeasure, commencing a ‘Danish’ concert, an indescribable discord…..and called forth from the awakened individuals remonstrances couched in nautical language which will not bear translation.
Douglas M.
25th November 1911.
SITREP 4. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.POSITION: Lat 85 deg 36 min S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil – Forced rest day.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gale from NE with thick drift all day but easing in the evening
REMARKS: Weather prevented travel today. Prospects good for tomorrow, have enjoyed dog meat again with the dogs. Bjaaland says its bloody horrible lying still, you can hardly breathe at this altitude.
Roald A.
SITREP 4 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 21.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: - 22 deg C overnight -19 deg C by day. Overcast with cold wind from SE early clearing to warm and sunny.
REMARKS: Surface very heavy during first march but improved during the second. Because nights are now warmer marching will be adjusted by starting 2 hours later each day so that progressively marching will be moved to daytime. All groups started at the same time arriving at the lunch camp together, the two crocks (Ponies) were 300m behind at the end or the second march and tiring, we will lighten the load tomorrow when we make another depot. Land can be seen dimly ahead. Meares reported the Jehu cut up into 4 meals for the dogs.
Robert S.
SITREP 4. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Preparations and loading continue. It is worth noting that the S Y Aurora, built in 1876, was a Dundee Whaler and prior to its purchase in England for this expedition had operated out of Dundee Scotland in the whaling grounds of Newfoundland. Captain John King Davis was the chief officer of the Nimrod during Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition of 1907-09 and later its captain while I was expedition physicist.
Douglas M.
24th November 1911.
SITREP 3. Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Lat 85 deg 36 min S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil – Rest day.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gale eased this morning then thick drift all day. -32 deg C in evening
REMARKS: Up, loaded and on sledges by 7:00 am but heavy drift meant we had to set up camp again. Boiled up dog for a meal (the third good meal provided by the Greenland dogs), preferable to Pemmican. Biscuit pudding made with dried milk followed. Dogs have recovered from their hard pull up to the plateau. In sleeping bags all day and boredom has set in hope to get away tomorrow.
Roald A.
SITREP 3 . British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 19. Lat 81 deg 15'
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Overcast with cold wind from SE early clearing to warm and sunny.
REMARKS: Usual march very easy over fairly good surface but on snow sinking a few inches making walking tiring. One of the ponies, Jehu had to be shot as he was pulling very little and unlikely to be strong enough to return to Hut Point. The rest show no signs of flagging. Procedure has been for man haulers to head off first followed by the Motor Party who were man-hauling as the motor sleds were abandoned, and 2-3 hours later the horse team. Two of the party return for Hut Point tonight.
Robert S.
SITREP 3. First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Preparations and loading continue.
Douglas M.
23rd November 1911.
SITREP 2. The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
POSITION: Lat 85 deg 36 min S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil – Rest day and acclimatisation to altitude.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Gale all day easing in afternoon.
REMARKS: Plan to depart tomorrow weather permitting. At each degree of latitude we will leave 90kg (7 days) of food for the return. A cairn will be built every second mile.
Roald A.
SITREP 2 . The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 19.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated – 240km from Beardmore Glacier.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: -12 deg C, weather closing in from South.
REMARKS: Ponies marched better after lunch. If one was to deteriorate we would be in “queer street” “I’m afraid we might get a blizzard. I hope to goodness it is not going to stop one marching; forage won’t allow that.”
Robert S.
SITREP 2. The First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Preparations and loading continue.
Douglas M.
22nd November 1911.
The Norwegian South Pole Party (Framheim to Pole 1700km). (Amundson, Bjaaland, Whisting, Hannson and Hassel.
SITREP 1. POSITION: Lat 85 deg 36 min S
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil - today repairs to equipment, re-balancing the loads and dog teams and leaving superfluous gear.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Violent gusts overnight, ESE Gale and thick drift till midday.
REMARKS: 24 dogs killed, 10 skinned with the best cuts for the men and the rest shared amongst the remaining 18 dogs. 14 carcases left at the depot. Hassel’s sled to be left behind and the other 3 to be taken to the pole with 6 dogs on each. 54 litres of paraffin left. "We called the place the Butchers' Shop …. There was depression and sadness in the air; we had grown so fond of our dogs".
Roald A.
SITREP 1. The British South Pole Party. (Hut Point to Pole 1400km) Scott, Oats, Wilson, Bowers and Edgar Evans.
POSITION: Camp 18.
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Not stated.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Glorious, night -18.5deg C, day -16.5deg C
REMARKS: Friction on sleds noticeably greater 3 hours either side of midnight. Horses breaking 3-4 inches through crust on snow which is trying on them. Men man-hauling finding the soft snow hard going and more hungry than others.
Robert S.
SITREP 1. First Australian Antarctic Expedition – Douglas Mawson and Party.
POSITION: Hobart
DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS: Nil
WEATHER CONDITIONS: N/A
REMARKS: Preparations and loading continue.
Douglas M.
* References include Home of the Blizzard by Sir Douglas Mawson, Race for The South Pole by Roland Huntford, With The Aurora in the Antarctic 1911 - 1914 John K Davis, The South Pole by Roald Amundson and South with Scott by Capt E Evans.
No comments:
Post a Comment