It was in the year 1912 when Robert Falcon Scott died on his return trip from the south pole. Famished, he and his colleagues succumbed to the cold. Despite Scott's disappointment at losing the race to the south pole his courage in the face of his end raised him to the status of a national hero.
Only now after researchers have spent years running studies are we able to offer information concerning the brutal Antarctica conditions facing anyone traversing the area. During the bitter winter months, temperatures often reach a low of minus 90 degrees Celsius and wind speeds average 67 kilometres an hour. Scott most likely faced these conditions but he was not educated in the extent of the dangers.
Scott's letters to his wife convey the extreme isolation that he and other scientists working in the Polar Regions often experienced. Even these days scientists will feel loneliness and isolation regardless of the technology available to them to communicate. Scott was survived by his wife and young son.
A relief expedition sent several months later found Scott's body, along with letters he had written to his wife. Scott died 11 miles away from his supply post. Captain Scott's wife was in New Zealand, waiting for her husband to come back, when news of his death reached her.
The letters that Scott left behind gave historians a great deal of information about his expedition. When he first began his expedition, Scott told his wife in his letter how great he felt physically and how much he enjoyed a hot meal. He was not bothered so much by the frigid climate, saying that his cooked foods made up the difference.
But as the expedition wore on and food began to run out Scott's tone in the letters becomes darker. He explained that the weather was getting even more brutal and showed no mercy. In the letters he explained how they had to eat only one hot meal and two days of cold food while traveling 11 miles.
He was a true pioneer of travel to "new worlds" during his generation. Unfortunately, though, his expedition seemed doomed from the beginning. He lost the race to be the first person to reach the South Pole to the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Amundsmen arrived at the South Pole on December 21, 1911, while Scott arrived on January 18, 1912.
Prior to undertaking his final expedition, Scott was considered a national hero for his invasion of Antarctica between 1902 and 1904. Two of his men, Lieutenant Henry Bowers and Dr Edward Wilson, hoped for survival as well as Scott during their trek home. Two others, Captain Lawrence Oats and Petty Officer Edgar Evans, had already succumbed to the cold.
The expedition had to begin rationing provisions only 20 miles from a supply depot. At this time, they had sparse food or fuel. Scott told his wife to find another husband if he should perish because of the bitterly cold temperatures and insufficient shelter.
Scott was careful to express that he held no regrets in his undertaking of this journey. He said he enjoyed what he was doing rather than sitting idly by at home. Scott's ambition and bravery inspired many generations of young people in Great Britain.
Captain Robert Scott's expedition was not successful in becoming the first team to reach the South Pole, arriving just a few weeks after Roald Amundsmen. Captain Scott passed on 29 March 1912. His diary of events entitled "Scott's Last Expedition" hit print in 1913.
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