The Expeditions Antarctica is the world's fifth largest continent, its area is about 1.5 times that of the United States of America and just less than 60 times that of the United Kingdom. It is almost completely covered by ice, some of it 3 miles thick. Life only exists around the coast. Until the early expeditions around the end of the 19th century only whalers had seen it. Explorers started to vie for being first to reach the Poles. After Robert Peary reached the North Pole in 1909, attention switched to that of the South Pole. The word "Antarctic" means "anti-Arctic" from the Greek "anti-Arkitos" - as they thought it must be there to balance the land masses in the northern hemisphere. First Expedition 1901-04 Scott's first expedition was the British National Antarctic Expedition between 1901 and 1904, which aimed to explore the Ross Sea area. This expedition required a vessel able to cope with the particularly hazardous conditions that would be experienced in the Antarctic. The Discovery was built in Dundee, designed to withstand the tremendous pressures on the hull while being trapped in the ice. It left Britain in August 1901 and made its way slowly to New Zealand. It was only able to make 7 knots, being so heavy and with the added weight of its cargo of scientific equipment, men, and provisions. It arrived in New Zealand in November. In December the ship left for the Antarctic Circle. The Sun disappeared beneath the horizon in April, leaving them in total darkness for 4 months. This time was spent at McMurdo Sound, Ross Island, conducting experiments. On 2nd November Scott headed off for the South Pole, along with Dr Wilson and Ernest Shackleton. Despite their dogs' failing health, they reached beyond the 80th parallel, the first to do so. They travelled much further south than others but were forced to turn back on 31st December due to ill-health, frostbite and snow-blindness and exhaustion. They had reached 82 degrees 17 seconds south. They were less than 500 miles from the pole. The return journey saw Shackleton becoming ill with scurvy and unable to pull the sledge. With one day's rations left, they reached the depot, which ensured their survival. They reached the ship on February 3, 1903. Their expedition had lasted 93 days and they had covered 960 miles. Shackleton was sent home on the returning supply ship. Scott and his crew spent another winter there. And once the sun had reappeared went on various expeditions, some very dangerous and leading to close calls, including one time when Scott fell into a crevasse. Evans, who had also fallen in, was pulled out only to say the following "Well, I'm blowed." They were expecting to spend another winter there, but two relief ships appeared, the Morning and the Terra Nova, on 5th January 1904. The Terra Nova was to feature heavily in Scott's next expedition. All 3 ships left on 19th February 1904. The Discovery reached Spithead on 10th September, over 3 years since its departure. Scott was lauded on his return. Amongst the honours he received was an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from Cambridge University. he travelled the country giving talks on the expedition and in 1905 published a book, "Voyage of the Discovery." He served in the Royal Navy for a while, but he yearned to return and tried to set up a return expedition. By this time Shackleton had also arranged his own trip. Relationships were soured between the former colleagues over plans for rival expeditions. Shackleton agreed to land on another area from McMurdo Sound, but bad conditions forced him to land on what was deemed Scott's territory. Shackleton did not reach the pole, being halted 97 miles short. Second Expedition 1910 Scott announced in September 1909 his intention to return. "The main object of the expedition is to reach the South Pole and secure for the British Empire the honour of that achievement." He raised some money by public speeches and a government grant of £20,000 enabling a ship to be bought: the Terra Nova, which had also been built in Dundee, though not specifically for an Antarctic mission, but as a whaling ship. Scott had wished to use the Discovery again, but this was not possible. Scott was in competition with other explorers, chief amongst these being the Norwegian Roald Amundsen (1872-1928). Amundsen's preferred method of Antarctic travel utilised dogs in teams to pull their sledges. His men were very experienced in using this method. Scott, however, didn't want to use dogs, as he wrote: "In my mind no journey ever made with dogs can approach the height of that fine conception which is realised when a party of men go forth to face hardships, dangers, and difficulties with their own unaided efforts, and by days and weeks of hard physical labour succeed in solving some problem of the great unknown. Surely in this case the conquest is more nobly and splendidly won". This policy was to prove decisive. In June 1910, the Terra Nova left London, heading southwards. After resupplying, it left New Zealand on 29th November 1910. On 4th January, the crew made their landing on firm ground at Cape Evans. They spent the winter at their camp, concerned about Amundsen's plans. Twelve men set off from their camp on 1st November 1911, using ponies, motorised sledges with some dogs. As the ponies died they were eaten straightaway, or left at the depots. The dogs went back to the base camp, and the sledges were then pulled by the men alone. Each man pulled the equivalent of 200 pounds through the soft snow. Some days they managed to travel less than 4 miles. On a journey nearer to 1800 miles, this was a poor return on their efforts. They made depots along the way, 70 miles apart, with enough food and fuel for the men on their return journey. Scott's party encountered blizzards on the way, at one point being forced to wait 4 day in their tents, a delay which would prove catastrophic. One of their chief obstacles was ascending the Beardmore Glacier, which was 10,000 feet high. The final support personnel having turned back, Scott carried on for the Pole with the final four men. By 6th January they passed the point that Shackleton had turned back, believing themselves to the most southerly travelled. They got to the pole on the 17th or 18th January 1912. They were not the first however. Amundsen had beaten them. On 16th January, they had spotted a flag tied to a sledge, Scott wrote "This told us the whole story. The Norwegians have forestalled us and are first at the Pole." Scott and his companions were distraught at this. Scott also wrote: "Many thoughts come and much discussion have we had...All the day dreams must go; it will be a wearisome return". Amundsen had reached the pole on 14th December. He had taken much less time to achieve his goal. By the time Scott had reached the pole, the Norwegians were only a week away from their camp at the Bay of Whales. Their journey was much less eventful. With morale low, Scott and his men had to walk the 800 miles back in terrible weather conditions such as gales and blizzards and with inadequate food reserves and little fuel for heating and cooking. Evans died first, having suffered frostbite, concussion and what appears to be a complete mental breakdown. Then came Oates' noble suicide. He said: "I am just going outside and may be some time" as he left the tent, never to be seen again. He took this step not wanting to be a further burden on his colleagues. Scott wrote "We knew that poor Oates was walking to his death, but though we tried to dissuade him, we knew it was the act of a brave man and an English gentleman. We all hope to meet the end with a similar spirit and assuredly the end is not far." The last 3 men of the party (Scott, Dr Wilson and Bowers) died in late March. They were only 11 miles from the One Ton Depot when they were forced to make camp, too weak to carry on, hemmed in by blizzard. Scott's last diary entry was on 29th March. He wrote: "It seems a pity, but I do not think that I can write more. R. Scott. For God's sake look after our people". Their last camp was found in November, following the dark winter. The letters and Scott's diary were recovered, but their bodies were left. Scott had been the last to die." />

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