The Endurance

1
The Endurance

• By Matthew Buza

2
Expedition

• The impact and importance of the polar journeys
• Science as the focus
• The Journey
• Problems that arose
• The great journey back

3
Meaning to such madness

• Basically a large sheet of ice binding the
  islands and the main body of land.
• The continent has an immense effect on the
  Earths weather pattern, also it reflects great
  amounts of heat back into the atmosphere
• Also it houses a large amount of the Earths
  fresh water.
• The importance of monitoring the o-zone
  deterioration, along with ice levels, monitoring
  the effects on sea levels.
• Also the wonderful variety ecosystems that do
  exist, to fully understand how life can survive
  in such harsh environments.

4
Science the fruit of life

• Biology, main focus was marine life, plankton,
  seals, whales
• Including water temperature, salinity
• Meteorology, weather patterns and the low
  latitudes
• Mixing of hot and cold air masses cause dramatic
  storms, and terrible seas
• Geologists, study the ice flows, and obtained
  bottom samples when in the ice flows.
• Physicists worked mainly on magnetic pole
  measurements, which was tough due to the extreme
  environments. Very hard to get accurate
  measurements, apparatus exposed was contaminated.
• The scientific examination of the environments
  helps to expand the economic development of the
  uninhabited lands

5
Pre-history

• Many attempts in the past to reach the south pole
  but all failed. Two major players who would be
  one of the first to make it, Robert Scott, Roald
  Amundsen, Ernest Shackelton.
• 1907-09 Shackleton treks to the south pole with
  aid of ponies, but turns back 97 miles from the
  pole in order to save his men
• In June of 11 Roald Amundsen set out in his
  ship, Fram, bound for the North Pole.
• Beg leave to inform you Fram proceeding
  Antarctic. Amundsen
• This set up a race to the pole with Scott and
  Amundsen
• Robert Scott sets out from Ross island in 11,
  unfortunately he used novice dog drivers, and
  favored manhauling.
• Amundsen was well trained in skiing and
  dog-driving, covering 40 miles a day and covering
  the 1400 mile trek in 10 days.
• Scott arrives to the pole to see the Norwegian
  flag planted there not only a month before.

6
Now what?

• Shackleton was beat by both Scott and Amundsen,
  but plans to be the first to traverse the entire
  continent.
• The Aurora, which sailed to the Ross Sea and laid
  supply depots at intervals to the Pole.
• Shackletons hopes were to sail into the Wendell
  Sea, opposite of where Scott and Amundsen had set
  in, and cross the continent to the Ross Sea.
• The Endurance set out from the Whaling Port in
  South Georgia island. Making route through the
  South Sandwich Islands.

7
The Beginning of the End

• The Endurance had set out on December 6, and by
  early January the Endurance had fallen to the ice
  flows, and by the 19th of January the Endurance
  was frozen solid in the ice.
• Once frozen in the ship flows with the ice, and
  reached the 77th parallel, which would be the
  farthest the ship would reach.
• Problems of coal usage, Killer whale attacks, and
  the crushing ice was a strain on the crew. Took
  out frustration by playing games of Soccer.

8
Into the Winter

• The ship continued to be frozen in the ice,
  throughout the Antarctic winter which begins in
  May 1, and lasts for 70 days.
• The Men continued to entertain themselves with
  Arctic Derbies with 5 teams competing.
  Chocolate and Cigarettes were the paid winnings.
• October 23rd marked the beginning of the end. The
  ship sustained tremendous pressure, and the ship
  began to leak. The Temperature was 8.5 F.
• Shackleton ordered the ship emptied. The men
  pitched tents 100 yards from the ship. They were
  346 miles from the nearest point of possibly
  finding any shelter or food.

9
Start to run

• A pressure ridge began to split the ice beneath
  them which forced the men to move camp a mile and
  a half from the wreck, Ocean Camp.
• On November 21st the Endurance raised it stern
  and slipped beneath the ice. The men were without
  a ship.
• Shackleton chose to begin moving westward towards
  Paulet Island. Christmas was celebrated on the
  22nd, this would be their last good meal for 8
  months.
• They continued to march west, all the while the
  ice beginning to break beneath them. Many times
  forcing the 28 men into the two boats. On April
  9th they were forced into the boats for good.
• Shackleton thought they had made good progress to
  the west but actually they drifted East to
  Elephant Island. The men touched land for the
  first time in 16 months.

10
The Greatest Journey of all Time

• The men now marooned on Elephant Island with no
  hope of survival except for the will of
  Shackleton.
• Two Ships the Stancomb Wills, and the James Caird
  began to ready for the journey ahead.
• On April 24th The James Caird, supplied with ice
  for drinking water, a sextant, aneroid, prismatic
  compass, anchor, some charts and a pair of
  binoculars, including the 6 bravest men ever.
  They set out for St. George Island.
• Leaving the majority of the crew behind, to fend
  for themselves and hope for a rescue.

11
At Sea

• The James Caird was traveling at 3 mph between
  icebergs, making 60-70 miles a day.
• On the 9th day of the voyage they were besieged
  by endless storms. Ice and water coming
  over-board freezing the sleeping bags, and icing
  over the ores. They continued to sail and row
  trusting their path.
• Frostbite and blisters began to plague the men,
  with fingers feeling the brunt of the weather.
• They were hit by a wave that covered the boat and
  threatened to capsize. The men baled the water
  out by hand, because the bilge had frozen over.
• On the fourteenth day of the voyage at sea, and
  traversing 800 miles in a small rescue boat, the
  men reached St. George Island.

12
South Georgias

• The men were now 17 miles from the Whaling
  Station, and the men had the mountains and
  glaciers awaited them. A feat which had never
  been accomplished.
• The men scaled the 4500 ft mountains and
  glaciers. And walked down into the Whaling
  Station.

13
Those left behind

• It took 4 tries to return back to rescue the men.
  The Southern Sky, Instituto De Pesca, Emma, and
  finally the Yelcho.
• It was approaching lunch time on August 30th and
  the men spotted the Yelcho. They set their
  clothes afire to set a signal.
• They were described as running back and forth,
  shouting.
• The Boat Approached the shore, with Shackleton at
  the bow and shouted to the crew
• Are you all well?
• Within an hour they were all sailing north. They
  survived Elephant Island for 105 days.