Author Archives: Ernest Shackleton

Unknown's avatar

About Ernest Shackleton

Polar Explorer. Leader of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917.

Land in sight

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“Land was in sight to the east and south about sixteen miles distant on the 22nd. The land-ice seemed to be faced with ice-cliffs at most points, but here and there slopes ran down to sea-level. Large crevassed areas in … Continue reading →

Posted in Shackleton | Comments Off on Land in sight

“Morrell’s Land”

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“New South Greenland, sometimes known as Morrell’s Land, was an appearance of land recorded by the American captain Benjamin Morrell of the schooner Wasp in March 1823, during a sealing and exploration voyage in the Weddell Sea area of Antarctica. … Continue reading →

Posted in Images, Other Voices | Comments Off on “Morrell’s Land”

“Infallible”

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“A wretched day. Blowing a blizzard—wind and snow. Unable to move. We are very much stuck in the pack. There is ice all round us, even under the stern, and no open water alongside the ship at all, as there … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Voices | Comments Off on “Infallible”

Closed around the ship like pudding

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“Almost immediately they realized that this was a different sort of ice from anything encountered before. The floes were thick but very soft, and consisted mostly of snow. They floated in a soupy sea of mushy brash ice composed of … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Voices | Comments Off on Closed around the ship like pudding

It is now seven weeks…

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“It is now seven weeks since we first entered the pack ice and since then it has been almost an incessant battle. It is gratifying to feel we are only 80 miles from… Vahsel Bay. We are all keen to … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Voices | Comments Off on It is now seven weeks…

His Natural Life

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

Copy of (For the Term of) His Natural Life, by Marcus Clarke, publ. 1874* “[This] novel is considered one of the first examples of Tasmanian Gothic literature. [Read on gutenberg.org.] “The original tragic ending was considered unsuitable for readers in … Continue reading →

Posted in Images, Other Voices, Video | Comments Off on His Natural Life

Evil Conditions

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“I had been prepared for evil conditions in the Weddell Sea, but had hoped that in December and January, at any rate, the pack would be loose, even if no open water was to be found. What we were actually … Continue reading →

Posted in Shackleton | Comments Off on Evil Conditions

Caird Coast

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“The Brunt Ice Shelf, visible here, borders the Antarctic coast of Coats Land, Antarctica, between the Dawson-Lambton Glacier and the Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue. The Brunt Icefalls extend along Caird Coast, a portion of the shore of Coats Land, for about … Continue reading →

Posted in Images, Other Voices | Comments Off on Caird Coast

Ramming

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“During the weeks we spent manoeuvring to the south through the tortuous mazes of the pack it was necessary often to split floes by driving the ship against them. This form of attack was effective against ice up to three … Continue reading →

Posted in Images, Shackleton | Comments Off on Ramming

Worsley specialized in ramming

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Ernest Shackleton

“Each watch had its characteristics. Worsley specialised in ramming, and I have a sneaking suspicion that he often went out of his way to find a nice piece of floe at which he could drive at full speed and cut … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Voices | Comments Off on Worsley specialized in ramming