Shackleton

RichardH

In 1914 explorer Ernest Shackleton made one of the most daring sea voyages of all time. Exhausted and hungry after being adrift in the ice for months, he saved his stranded crew by sailing a lifeboat 800 miles across the stormy Antarctic ocean, from a remote desolate rock, to South Georgia Island. Once landing on South Georgia he had to climb over a snow covered mountain range of up to 9000 ft, to reach a whaling station on the other side.... then sail to South America to find a ship that could return through seasonal ice to save his crew. He saved everyone. The whole story is amazing.

Is there anyone here familiar with the voyage of Shackleton?

Dakini

Here's the freaky part. While he and two of his men were trudging over extremely rugged mountains, easing each other down half-frozen waterfalls on ropes (getting soaked through to the skin in freezing weather, in the process) and pushing each other onward against all odds, each of them individually experienced an odd sensation that a fourth person or being of some sort was accompanying them. Shackleton noted his perceptions in his diary, but didn't mention it to the other men. When they finally reached their destination, the whaling station, the other men asked Shackleton if he'd noticed anything unusual, as if a guardian spirit was walking with the the whole time. At that point, he confessed he had.

Shackleton was the oldest of the group, and his body was so drained by the challenges of their journey thus far, that he died at the whaling station, but his two men went on to bring about a rescue. They had to wait a year, though, because the staff at the whaling station said it was too late in the season to arrange a rescue. How the remaining men on Antarctica made it through another winter with little (if any) fuel, and only what they could catch for food, is staggering to contemplate.

DaltheJigsaw

Interesting!

Dakini

I should add that Shackleton was advised not to make his voyage to late in the season, he was warned that ice was already forming in the ocean, and that he should postpone the entire expedition until the next year, but he was impatient to get on with it. Bad choice. So it was his hastiness that got everyone into the dire straights they were in. That would've been some humongous karma on him if the crew had died. But he saw to it that they didn't.

robot

Shackleton died some years after that expedition from a heart attack on board.

Dakini

Shackleton died some years after that expedition from a heart attack on board.

OK, so TV documentaries lie. Thanks for the update.

robot

I should add that Shackleton was advised not to make his voyage to late in the season, he was warned that ice was already forming in the ocean, and that he should postpone the entire expedition until the next year, but he was impatient to get on with it. Bad choice. So it was his hastiness that got everyone into the dire straights they were in. That would've been some humongous karma on him if the crew had died. But he saw to it that they didn't.

Mariners everywhere are in awe of his accomplishment. His crew knew what they were getting into.

"In December 1914, Shackleton set sail with his 27-man crew, many of whom, it is said, had responded to the following recruitment notice: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success. —Ernest Shackleton." "

Dakini

Great! Thanks!

RichardH

He did happen to die on South Georgia, but at a later date.

He was a glory hound...and maybe reckless... but his determination not to let his crew down was amazing.

Here is the launch from Elephant island...

Dakini

It's miraculous they made it to South Georgia. He said the ocean swells were so huge, their little boat would get lost in the bottom of the swells, like a little cork.

RichardH

When the Endurance broke up and they had to camp on a disintegrating ice flow, they had these guys, and Orca, coming by mistaking them for other seals..

There is a book titled "Endurance" that is a thorough telling of the story.... with good background info. I pull it out and read it every couple of years.. always fresh and amazing.

Tosh

Is there anyone here familiar with the voyage of Shackleton?

Yes, I went through a 'Shackleton phase', read books about him 'n' stuff; this was a long time ago. A brave and tough bloke.

Good documentary about it here:

RichardH

Thanks for the link, @Tosh. Just watched whole program.... well done..and haunting.