Norway Wins!

[Conor Dary]

It was 94 years ago today that the Norwegians, led by Roald Amundsen, beat England 1-nil in the race to the South Pole. The Brits, led by Captain Robert Scott, followed on a month later.

[kuha]

I understand they got a rather cold reception.

[Guest]

Ouch!! To paraphrase Lillelien's commentary when Norway beat England 2-1 at football in '81: Our boys took one hell of a beating :cry:

Just going outside, may be some time....

[gh]

Brits DNFed :-(

[Daisy]

Just going outside, may be some time....

Oates made an amazing jesture. Strangly Scott got all the glory, although history does seem to be catching up with him re: Roland Huntsford's books on the topic.

[EPelle]

Before the winter set in we had 60 tons of seal meat in our winter quarters; this was enough for ourselves and our 110 dogs...The sun left us on April 22, and we did not see it again for four months...

Meanwhile we had abandoned the original plan, by which all were to go to the south. Five men were to do this, while three others made a trip to the east, to visit King Edward VII. Land. This trip did not form part of our programme, but as the English did not reach this land last summer, as had been their intention, we agreed that it would be best to undertake this journey in addition... (Entire translated account here)

[gh]

For incredible screen version (based on Huntford) check out "The Last Place On Earth," which originally aired on PBS about a decade ago. Shuddered in August while watching it. Had to watch it again a few months ago after seeing the The Fram in Oslo this summer (ship in the video looks nothign like it though).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088551/

[cullman]

PBS program "Secrets Of The Dead" recently did an interesting analysis of the Scott expedition.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_southpole/

[Per Andersen]

I am lucky enough to own a copy of Amundsen's 1912 book - Sydpolen- and every year on this date I read a chapter or two, break out the Aqua-vit and drink to Amundsen, Bjaaland (world-class skier), Hanssen, Hassel and Wisting.

It is amazing how well Amundsen planned his assault on the Pole compared to Scott's haphazard way. No lost mittens and abandoned skis among Amundsen's men. I shudder by the thoughts of Scott's manhauling.

[Daisy]

No lost mittens and abandoned skis among Amundsen's men. I shudder by the thoughts of Scott's manhauling.

Of course the abandoned skis actually makes sense since they had no idea how to use them. On the other hand, not knowing how to use them makes no sense at all.

And really, why use dogs when you can use ponies?

[Pego]

No lost mittens and abandoned skis among Amundsen's men. I shudder by the thoughts of Scott's manhauling.

Of course the abandoned skis actually makes sense since they had no idea how to use them. On the other hand, not knowing how to use them makes no sense at all.

And really, why use dogs when you can use ponies?

Accounts of the two expeditions that I read were pretty unanimous that the sled dogs are far better suitable for those conditions than the ponies. Those authors considered the ponies to be Scott's biggest blunder.

[Daisy]

No lost mittens and abandoned skis among Amundsen's men. I shudder by the thoughts of Scott's manhauling.

And really, why use dogs when you can use ponies?

Accounts of the two expeditions that I read were pretty unanimous that the sled dogs are far better suitable for those conditions than the ponies. Those authors considered the ponies to be Scott's biggest blunder.

May be you missed my heavy sarcasm? We need a sarcasm icon.

[Conor Dary]

For incredible screen version (based on Huntford) check out "The Last Place On Earth," which originally aired on PBS about a decade ago. Shuddered in August while watching it. Had to watch it again a few months ago after seeing the The Fram in Oslo this summer (ship in the video looks nothign like it though).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088551/

It is an amazing show. Watched, for the umpteenth time, the 6th episode last night, 'Forgone Conclusion' when Amundsen reaches the pole. Meanwhile, Scott and his unmerry men are back at 83 deg, 35', dumping skis, common sense. etc...

By the way, it was first shown on PBS in 1985. The book is just as good. After spending years looking for a copy of the first edition hardback, I found one a few years ago in one of my favorite places in the world: Hay-on-Wye.

[gh]

Obscure movie that's one of my favorite "hidden gems," (as Siskel & Ebert used to call them) dealing with Amundsen's death (among others) is The Red Tent, with Sean Connery (!) as Amundsen.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067315/?fr ... fc=1;ft=20

[Per Andersen]

Obscure movie that's one of my favorite "hidden gems," (as Siskel & Ebert used to call them) dealing with Amundsen's death (among others) is The Red Tent, with Sean Connery (!) as Amundsen.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067315/?fr ... fc=1;ft=20

I agree, that movie was much better than I had anticipated. Connery managed to show the brooding Amundsen of the post South Pole era. None of Amundsens men with the exception of the happy go lucky Olav Bjaaland adjusted easily to life after the South Pole.

Bjaaland lit the olympic flame in Morgedal, Telemark (Birthplace of skiing) for the Oympic Winter Games in Oslo in 1952.