Journeying back from the South Pole in the year 1912, Captain Robert Falcon Scott met his untimely end. Suffering from hypothermia and starvation, Captain Scott and the individuals accompanying him, met their death.Scott showed great courage facing his unfortunate demise, following the extreme disappointment at losing the race to the South Pole, and this increased his popularity, and branded him a national hero.

Nearly a century later, modern scientists continue to work towards a better understanding of the fierce conditions in Antarctica.Winter air temperatures could reach minus 90 degrees Celsius. Winds traveled about 67 kilometers per hour.Scott would have faced conditions such as these, with unfortunately an insufficient knowledge about the continent’s real dangers.antarctic cruises

Examining the letters Scott wrote to his wife as he worked as a scientists on the continent one can see the isolation he was feeling there.Even today, with all our current communication technology, researchers working in this area can still relate to a deep sense of feeling all alone.Scott’s death made his wife a widow and single mother to her young son.

The letters he wrote to his wife were discovered when his body was found months after he died.The camp with his equipment was eleven miles away.The wife-made-widow of Captain Scott was waiting in New Zealand from him when she was made aware of his passing.

Researchers throughout history have learned a great deal from Scott’s letters.In the beginning, his letters were positive and explained how much he enjoyed sitting down to a good meal.His letters mentioned the cold, and his complaints about it, but he claimed the hot meals the team enjoyed kept the freezing temperatures away.antarctica vacation

As the expedition went on the food was running low, Scott’s mood seemed to change as well. He talked about the unwavering cold conditions.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 not a newbie to the exploration field, however he had two strikes against him.On the race to arrive first at the South Pole, Scott was eclipsed by Norway’s Roald Amundsen.Scott and his team arrived at the South Pole on January 18, 1912, while Amundsen arrived almost a month earlier on December 21, 1911.

Scott had already become a true hero in his country before making his last journey due to a previous attempt at the South Pole from 1902-1904.The two other men with him, Lieutenant Henry Bowers and Dr. Edward Wilson held onto their beliefs of survival.Two others, Petty Officer Edgar Evans and Captain Lawrence Oats, had already died.

While just twenty miles from the depot, the explorers needed to stow all provisions.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.

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. For generations now, Scott’s courage and determination have served as an inspiration for British youths.

Although his journey was not a first place victory in reaching Antarctica (second to Amundsen by only weeks), Captain Robert Scott’s legacy is still unquestionable.Scott died on March 29, 1912.Published as “Scott’s Last Expedition,” his journals are available for study.

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