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Mawson: And the Ice Men of the Heroic Age: Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen

I thought I knew much about the history of Antarctic exploration. Yet I learned much, much more after reading this book.

The incredible story of Australia’s most famous polar explorer and the giants from the heroic age of polar exploration.

Douglas Mawson, born in 1882 and knighted in 1914, was Australia’s greatest Antarctic explorer. This is the incredible account of an expedition he led on December 2, 1911, from Hobart, to explore the virgin frozen coastline below, 2000 miles of which had never felt the tread of a human foot.

… he headed east on an extraordinary sledging trek with his companions, Belgrave Ninnis and Dr Xavier Mertz. After five weeks, tragedy struck—Ninnis was swallowed whole by a snow-covered crevasse, and Mawson and Mertz realized it was too dangerous to go on. Dwindling supplies forced them to kill their dogs to feed the other dogs, at first, and then themselves. Hunger, sickness, and despair eventually got the better of Ninnis, and he succumbed to madness and then to death.

Mawson found himself all alone, 160 miles from safety, with next to no food. This staggering tale of his survival, against all odds, also masterfully interweaves the stories of the other giants from the heroic age of polar exploration, to bring the jaw-dropping events of this bygone era dazzlingly back to life. …

GoodReads

Mawson cover

Mawson: And the Ice Men of the Heroic Age: Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen. (2012)

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which of these men would you follow?

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Mawson_(crop)

Scott_of_the_Antarctic_crop

Amundsen_in_fur_skins

If you guessed the last man, you were right. Roald Amundsen not only led his party safely to the South Pole, ahead of Scott, but he managed to gain weight on the adventure.

In 1926, Amundsen was the first expedition leader to be recognized without dispute as having reached the North Pole. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage (1903–06). He disappeared in June 1928 while taking part in a rescue mission.

Robert Falcon Scott
Robert Falcon Scott

Scott led a party of five which reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, only to find that they had been preceded by Roald Amundsen‘s Norwegian expedition. On their return journey, Scott and his four comrades all died from a combination of exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold.

 

Douglas Mawson
Douglas Mawson

Mawson turned down an invitation to join Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition in 1910; Australian geologist Griffith Taylor went with Scott instead. Mawson chose to lead his own expedition, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, to King George V Land and Adelie Land, the sector of the Antarctic continent immediately south of Australia, which at the time was almost entirely unexplored. The objectives were to carry out geographical exploration and scientific studies, including a visit to the South Magnetic Pole. …

Mawson himself was part of a three-man sledging team, the Far Eastern Party, with Xavier Mertz and Lieutenant Belgrave Ninnis …

There was a quick deterioration in the men’s physical condition during this journey. …

It was unknown at the time that Husky liver contains extremely high levels of vitamin A. It was also not known that such levels of vitamin A could cause liver damage to humans. …

(Mertz and Ninnis died.) Mawson continued the final 100 miles alone. During his return trip to the Main Base he fell through the lid of a crevasse, and was saved only by his sledge wedging itself into the ice above him. He was forced to climb out using the harness attaching him to the sled. .

When Mawson finally made it back to Cape Denison, the ship Aurora had left only a few hours before. …

Ernest Shackleton
Ernest Shackleton

After the race to the South Pole ended in December 1911 with Roald Amundsen‘s conquest, Shackleton turned his attention to what he said was the one remaining great object of Antarctic journeying: the crossing of the continent from sea to sea, via the pole. To this end he made preparations for what became the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–17. Disaster struck this expedition when its ship, Endurance, became trapped in pack ice and was slowly crushed before the shore parties could be landed. There followed a sequence of exploits, and an ultimate escape with no loss of human life, that would eventually assure Shackleton’s heroic status, although this was not immediately evident. …

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Lake Lovely Water Trail, B.C.

The Tantalus Range is easily viewed from the “Sea to Sky Highway” that travels from Vancouver to Squamish and Whistler.

Tantalus

Lake Lovely Water is a Mountaineer’s and Scrambler’s Paradise. But it’s not for the inexperienced nor ill-prepared.

There is a 6.5 km (4-6 hour) hike to Lake Lovely Water. The trail is very rugged and steep. Good route finding skills and proper equipment and clothing are required. Weather can change quickly, causing limited visibility.

There are steep and rugged established trails leading from the cabin towards Niobe Meadows (approximately 2.5km one-way) and Lambda Lake Meadows (approximately 3.5km one-way).

BC Parks

Access to the Lake Lovely Water trail requires crossing the Squamish River. Jetboat service may be available out of Brackendale. Or you could chopper out of Squamish Airport direct to a hut. Contact Omega Aviation 604-898-1067 or Black Tusk Helicopters 604-898-4800.

I’ve heard of hikers canoeing across.

By reservation only, you could stay at either Tantalus Hut on the Lake (3850ft) or Jim Haberl Hut (6800ft).

Lake Lovely Waterrelated – Tantalust, Part V: Epilogue (heli hiking)

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how did the rodent get in my car?

I parked overnight at the Cheakamus Lake trailhead near Whistler B.C.

Vandals have been known to break into vehicles here, so I was careful to lock up tight.

On my return, I found that a bag of sunflower seeds had been worked over by some kind of critter.

rodent in the car

There’s a slight risk of Hantavirus, of course. Not good.

I’d never before heard of rodents gaining entrance to a locked car. Leave a comment if you’ve heard of this in the past.

related – How do you deter mice from automobiles?

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Loggers Lake – Whistler, BC, Canada

On a trail run/hike out of my residence, Whistler’s Athletes Lodge, I passed this pretty volcanic crater lake.

You can’t lose hiking near Whistler B.C.

It’s all good.

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One of the easier Whistler, BC, Canada lakes to access by walking a short distance. But, be aware, the distance to the lake may be short but the steep climb to the lake is not easy. … mainly loose rocks following a deactivated road, now hiking and mountain biking trail, for 350 metres.

Loggers Lake – Whistler, BC, CanadaLogger’s Lake, considered a watershed, is a small lake surrounded by trees and rock formations located in the Whistler Interpretive Forest. …

Loggers Lake Trail – Whistler, BC, Canada

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cycling Lost Lake, Whistler B.C.

Whistler Ski Resort is a cycling mecca in the summer.

There’s something for everyone within a very short radius.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Rockin’ Ronnie and I thoroughly enjoyed the medium difficulty network around Lost Lake. (The one short black trail we tried was too technical.)

Lost Lake cycling map

A great day. Next time we plan to try the easier downhill tracks off the ski lift. 🙂

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more photos

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Whistler Athlete’s Lodge

For the second time in 2014, I’m staying at an athlete’s hostel built for the 2010 Winter Olympics near Vancouver, B.C.

Inexpensive. And brilliant.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

If you want to be inspired to do more outdoor sport, stay at Whistler Athlete’s Lodge.

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#1 tool for your hikes?

Morry-Knows-Multitools-Logo-copy654Morry Banes surveyed hiking bloggers with a simple question:

What’s the no.1 tool for your hikes?

I like this answer better than my own:

Chad Poindexter from Sticksblog.com:

In my opinion, the “no. 1 tool for hikes” (for anyone) is the tool between their ears.

Before anyone steps out for a hike, a backpacking trip, or anything in which they will be away from immediate help, one should take the time to learn about what they are getting themselves into.

Look at maps, at weather forecasts, and how much use the area gets. …

read the rest – Experts Roundup – What’s the no.1 tool for your hikes?