Race to the South Pole - The Incredible Journey 

A few years ago I saw a documentary which recreated this race. The participants were from the Royal Marines and the Norwegian military. They used the same everything, including food. The Norwegian team won the race to the pole and the English team were evacuated on the way back because their health deteriorated and threatened their lives. Various experts opinions that the Scott's team diet was deficient for the task. Not mentioned was the superfluous food that Amundsen left at the pole which Scott was too proud to avail himself of.

The unusual drops in temperature happened at the tail end of the Antarctic summer 1912. If Scott had planned properly, he would have made it back before those anomalous drops in temperature occurred. If he had learned to run dog teams properly, as Nansen continuously urged him to do, he would have made it back. If he had properly tested his motor sledges and learned that they did not work in cold environments, he would have made it back. If he had properly organized the selection of good ponies instead of lame ones, he would have made it back. If he had properly learned to ski like Nansen insisted, he would have made it back. He did not do these things, and he did not make it back. People defend Scott citing the extreme temperatures that year, forgetting that Amundsen was also there in the same anomalous year. However, due to proper planning, equipment and execution, Amundsen made it out before the weather conditions could threaten the success of his expedition. Scott's margins for error were simply too thin. The lack of a singular focus, all the many mistakes and inefficiencies of his expedition, in addition to the unusually cold temperatures in the final summer months of 1912, all piled up ending in disaster for him and his team. Here's a relevant quote by Amundsen: “Victory awaits him who has everything in order, luck some people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck.”

@@dennisnolan5787 Do you remember what this documentary was called?

@@suba7320 Amundsen and his men ate some of the dogs because he knew that fresh meat prevented scurvy. In extremely cold environments the fuel used for cooking would actually weep out of the tins so Amundsen had them soldered tight. This illustrates how small details can make all the difference in surviving in a harsh environment.

@@suba7320 If I am not mistaken Scott party also were found still dragging stone saples when they died.

Indurance

The Weather was the same for both parties. No excuses for the poor plans made by Scott. Antarctica is brutally cold and planning for the worst was something Amundsen did.

ronald smith Amundsen was back home before the cold weather hit.

@@lloydtunbridge9661 therefore cold can be the reason for the death but not for the lost race

@@alfredog1021 Scott did not plan for a race. Scott planned and got finance for a scientific expedition including a trip to the pole. Amundsen changed his plans for the north to the south and only informed Scott when Scott was already travelling to Antarctica. While there is little doubt that Amundsen was better equipped for a race, it is not reasonable to call Scott dumb and inept.

@@lloydtunbridge9661Scott planned for the pole, but to finance the expedition he needed a scientific alibi. It was not possible to get about 90.000£ for just getting to the pole as the only reason.

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