One word best describes Peary and Amundsen - "professionals". Both of them took immense care in preparing themselves for their expeditions, and both believed that the secret to success in Polar exploration lay in using the methods of the Eskimos.
Robert Edwin Peary 1856 - 1920
Conqueror of the North Pole, Peary devoted 23 years to attaining this goal. He went to Greenland to learn Arctic sledging techniques from the Eskimos, and it was with Eskimo help that he reached the Pole in 1909.
Peary combined modern engineering principles and military style efficiency with ago old Eskimo technique. He used rifles, sextant and chronometer, but insisted on Eskimo designed equipment, pemmican (concentrated food) and preferred an Eskimo igloo as stronger, safer, and warmer than a tent. His own favourite Arctic dress was a full length suit of bearskin adapted from an Eskimo pattern. On his journey to the Pole he used the native method of travelling by night when the snow surface was harder, and sleeping by day in order to take advantage of the warmer hours and avoid snow blindness from the glare of the sun.
Roald Amundsen 1872 - 1928
Amundsen, like the Norwegian Nansen before him, virtually made exploration his trade. He studied medicine, joined the Norwegian Navy to learn seamanship, and as a member of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition acquired first-hand experience of south Polar regions, He also lived among the Canadian Eskimos, and studied practical science, especially terrestrial magnetism.
Originally, he had intended to attempt to reach the North Pole, but when he heard that Peary had been successful, Amundsen secretly changed his mind. After telling the Press that he was still heading north, Amundsen put to sea in Fram and sent a fateful telegram to Scott which read "Beg leave to inform you proceeding Antarctica. Amundsen. " In fact Amundsen's route to the Pole was as difficult as Scott's, and the Norwegians were successful partly because they used sledge dogs instead of trying to manhaul their equipment.
First to reach the South Pole and first to sail the North West Passage, Amundsen was one of the most professional explorers. In 1903-6 he sailed the 100 ton auxiliary cutter Gjoa through the North West Passage, in places with only an inch of water below her keel. Then in 1911 using dogsleds he reached the South Pole on December 14, more than a month ahead of Scott.
Turning his attention to trans-polar flights Amundsen lost his life while on a rescue mission to help a crashed airship.
Sources:
- Henderson, B. (2006) True North: Peary, Cook, and the Race to the Pole. W. W. Norton & Co.
Linda Smallwood - Hi my name is Linda Smallwood. I am married with two sons aged 13 and 11 and live in North Wales. After 18 years working for The ...
