Find Out About The Very First Pioneers Of That Antarctic Continent

In 1912 while traveling back from the South Pole, Captain Robert Falcon Scott suffered a tragic death. He and his traveling companions succumbed to the cold and starved to death. Although stung sharply by his inability to win the race to the South Pole, his valor as he stared death in the face sealed his fate as a legend in his country.

In our modern times we now fully understand the extreme conditions that exist in the Antarctica wilderness. During the bitter winter months, temperatures often reach a low of minus 90 degrees Celsius and wind speeds average 67 kilometres an hour. Scott's expedition would have been plagued with weather conditions such as these, but that doesn't even begin to touch upon the true perils found in Antarctica.

Letters he wrote to his wife while carrying out his research duties in the Polar Regions had heavy overtones of extreme seclusion. Even these days scientists will feel loneliness and isolation regardless of the technology available to them to communicate. Scott's death made his wife a widow and single mother to her young son.

A few months after his expiration, Scott's body was found with several letters to his wife. The supply camp was 11 miles from where he was found. Scott's wife learned of his demise in New Zealand, where she waited for his triumphant return.

The letters that Scott left behind gave historians a great deal of information about his expedition. They begin by describing a man in excellent shape, who took pleasure in a good hot meal. The cold didn't seem to be a problem, as the hot food made up for the bitter cold.

But as the expedition wore on and food began to run out Scott's tone in the letters becomes darker. He explains the temperature dropping, then continuing to drop more without relief. When Scott and his men were found, they had only one hot meal and two days worth of cold meals left for the remaining 11 miles, testament to the severe hunger they experienced.

Scott was one of the brave men of the early age of exploration but it seemed as if his expedition was cursed. First, the race to the South Pole was lost to a Norwegian named Roald Amundsmen. Amundsen had begun his expedition on December 21st of 1911, and Scott's expedition went underway January 18th of 1912.

Scott had already be hailed a hero for his expedition to the Antarctic wilderness in 1902 through 1904. Dr. Edward Wilson and Lieutenant Henry Bowers accompanied Scott.

All three men grasped at hopes of survival. Two others, Petty Officer Edgar Evans and Captain Lawrence Oats, had already died.

They were only twenty miles away from a relief zone and they stowed supplies. Now, they had hardly any meals or fuel left. Scott told his wife to find another husband if he should perish because of the bitterly cold temperatures and insufficient shelter.

His last missive shows no regret for the decision to take the trip which took his life. He described the journey, saying he preferred it over relaxing at home in comfort. Many generations of British youths have been inspired by Scott's courage and determination.

Captain Robert Scott's team was beaten by Roald Amundsmen in the race to reach the South Pole by a couple of weeks. He perished on the 29th day of March, 1912. "Scott's Last Expedition" is the book that was published in 1913, and it is Scott's personal journal.