31 Jan 2024

Embodying the spirit of early Antarctic adventurers

During his journey to the South Pole, Roald Amundsen encountered several days of limited visibility and wrote in his log, “fog, fog and more fog”. We knew how he felt as this morning dawned in fog. After departing the Ross Sea and heading towards our final stop on our In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton voyage, Campbell Island, the birders were frustrated, but all were relieved that the sea state remained calm as we continued north.

Happily, we had plenty to occupy us on board. John started the day with his presentation on The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917, focusing on the Ross Sea Party. We learned about the manhauling efforts of the British expeditions, and their evening meal of Hoosh – a mixture of Pemmican, biscuits and water. After the talk, we had the chance to embody the spirit of these early expeditions and put on replica harnesses and haul loads ourselves. We could also try a cup of Hoosh made by the galley team, it wasn’t too bad and was certainly filling.

It was still impossible to understand the obstacles overcome by the explorers of the heroic age – but at least we had a small taste.

Images © F. Wardle, Heritage Expeditions