Chronology of Amundsen and Scott Expeditions

Published: June 3, 2009, 4:16 pm

Updated: September 13, 2011, 8:28 am

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Refer to these Encyclopedia of Earth articles: [[Amundsen and Scott at the [Pole]]], Exploration of the Antarctic, and Chronology of Antarctic Exploration. Dates are taken principally from Amundsen's 1913 published report of the Fram Expedition and from Scott's diary, also published in 1913.

Other sources are included in the Further Reading section at the end of the chronology.

Date	Amundsen Expedition	Scott Expedition
1910
June 15		Terra Nova sails from Cardiff.
August 9	Fram sails from Oslo.
September 6	Fram arrives at Madeira.
9	All expedition members informed of true objective of expedition - the [[[Pole]]]. Amundsen had informed his brother (who helped manage, but did not participate in, the expedition) and the commander and lead crew of the Fram previously; each sworn to secrecy. A telegram is sent to Scott: "Beg to inform you Fram proceeding Antarctic - Amundsen". Fram departs for [[Antarctic]a].
October 28		Terra Nova arrives in Melbourne, Australia. Scott receives Amundsen's telegram.
November 10		Terra Nova sails from New Zealand.
December 9		Terra Nova enters pack ice. Pack ice does not break up until January and so progress is slow.
30		Terra Nova exits pack ice after 20 days, after being completely halted twice in the ice for five days and then again for four days.
31		Terra Nova sights Victoria Land to its west.
1911
January 1	First iceberg sighted.	Soundings taken in Ross Sea and marine samples collected.
2	Crossed Antarctic Circle.	Sights Mount Erebus on Ross Island.
3	Enters pack ice.	Blocked from landing at Cape Crozier, Ross Island by ice.
4		Lands at Cape Evans, 78^o51'S - 15 miles from Hut Point, base of the Discovery Expedition.
5		Unloading begins.
6	Exits pack ice into open sea after three days.
7
8		One of the three motor sledges is lost when it falls through the sea ice during unloading.
9
10
11	Sight Great Ice Barrier.
12	Enter at Bay of Whales.	Unloading completed.
13
14	Locate landing place at point where Barrier is only 20 feet high and surmountable with aid of sea ice. Observation of ridges in the ice rising up to 500 feet high suggest underlying land. Location of base selected.
15
16	Begin constructing hut for base camp - Framheim.	Scott visits Discovery Expedition hut at Hut Point.
17		Move into hut (50 feet x 25 feet) at Cape Evans - 33 men in land party (7 officers, 12 scientific staff, 14 others).
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25		Scott lead expedition to establish supply depot at 80^oS - 12 men, 8 ponies, and 26 dogs.
26		Terra Nova drops team of first Western Geological Party on western shore of McMurdo Sound. Party under Victor Campbell sails east in Terra Nova to explore King Edward VII Land.
28	Nine members of the land party moves into Framheim - Amundsen, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, Hjalmar Johansen, Kristian Prestrud, Jørgen Stubberud, Oscar Wisting, and Adolf Henrik Lindström.
29
30		First Western Geological Party establishes base near Ferrar Glacier and begins surveys of nearby glaciers and McMurdo Dry Valleys.
31
February 1		Party under Victor Campbell unable to land on King Edward VII Land and returns back across sea toward Victoria Land.
2
3
4	Visit from Terra Nova.	Terra Nova stops at Bay of Whales Campbell and others meet with Amundsen.
5		Campbell directs Terra Nova back to Cape Evans to report on meeting with Amundsen.
10	Amundsen and three others begin journey south to establish depots.
11
12		Three of the eight ponies sent back after their weakness slows the depot expedition.
13
14	Depot established at at 80°S - Fram leaves Bay of Whales.	Campbell leaves Cape Evans with "Northern Party" for Cape Adare where it overwinters.
15
16	Back at Franheim.
17
18		After two more ponies weaken, One Ton Depot established at 79^o29'S (150 miles from Cape Evans) of the planned location.
19
20
21		Sledge and dog team almost lost in crevasse.
22	Second depot expedition with eight men.	Still on return trip, Scott learns of Amundsen's presence at Bay of Whales. Writes: "The proper, as well as wiser, course for us is to proceed exactly as though this had not happened. To go forward and do our best for the honor of the country without fear or panic. There is no doubt that Amundsen's plan is a serious menace to ours. He has a shorter distance to the Pole by 60 miles—I never thought he could have got so many dogs safely to the ice. His plan for running them seems excellent. But above all he can start his journey early in the season—an impossible condition with ponies."
23
24
25
26
27
28		Pony dies on return from depot expedition.
March 1
2		Threeponies lost when sea ice between Hut Point and Cape Evansbreaks up.
3	Depot established at at 81^oS - three men turn back, five continue south - lose two dogs on return hunt fifty seal hunted and stored for supplies while others are away.
8	Arrive at 82°S to established third depot.
12	Passed 81°S on return north.
13
14		First Western Geological Party returns to Cape Evans.
15
16	First dog fails and is killed, second dies on march.
17	Three more dogs die or are killed.
19	Arrive back at Framheim - total lose of eight dogs.
28	Aurora Australis seen for the first time.
31	Final depot run - seven men.
April 11	Return of depot run - supplies added at 80°S depot.
21	Sun sets for winter at Framheim - seal hunting continued and 60 tons of meat and blubber stored - 3 tons of supplies at depots.
24		Sun sets for winter at Cape Evans.
Antarctic winter	Olav Bjaaland reduced weight of sledges from 163 pounds (74 kg) to 53 pounds (24 kg) . Extensive work on clothing, supplies, and other details. Several dogs lost, others are born.	Extensive work on clothing, supplies, and planning detail. Scott recognizes potential failure of motor sledges and the importance of the dogs and ponies should the motors fail. Several scientific trips, including one to Cape Crozier.
June 22		Edward Wilson lead expedition to Cape Crozier to study Emperor Penguins.
July 1		Wilson party arrive at Cape Crozier after taking 19 days to cover the 60 miles.
August 1		Wilson party arrive back at Cape Evans.
22	Sledges loaded - 880 lbs (399 kg).
23		Sun returns at Cape Evans.
24	Sun returns art Framheim.
September 8	First start to pole with eight men (all but Lindström), seven sledges and 90 dogs with provisions for 90 days.
9
10		Party goes onto Ice Barrier for six days.
11	Temperature drops and dogs begin to weaken.
12	Temperature stays low.	Minimum temperature of -73^oF measured on Ice Barrier.
13
14	Reach depot at 80°S deposit supplies.
15	Begin return to Franheim.	Scott lead party on scientific expedition to Ferrar Glacier to measure movement of glacier as follow up to study of February/March.
16	Reach Franheim.	Ice Barrier party returns.
17	Johansen criticizes Amundsen's leadership. Amundsen decides to send Prestrud, Johansen and Stubberud to explore King Edward VII Land.
18
19		Scott party at Cathedral Rocks measuring glacier movement.
20
21
22
23
24		Scott party at Dunlap Island.
25
26
27
28		Scott party returns to Cape Evans.
29
30
October 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8		Clissold and member of the motor party injured while being photographer on iceberg.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19	Second start to pole with five men (Amundsen, Bjaaland, Hanssen, Hassel, and Wisting) , four sledges, and 52 dogs (13 per sledge) and provisions for four months.
20
21	Bjaaland's sledge nearly falls into crevasse.
22	Arrives at 80°S depot.
23	Rest.	Motor sledges attempt start but have mechanical problems.
24	Rest.	Scott's two motor sledge team depart for 80°30'S goal.
25	Departs 80°S depot.
26	Build first of 150 snow beacons to mark route at 80°23'S.
27
28
29	Reach 81°S.	One motor sledge fails and is abandoned.
30	Rest.
31	Leaves 81°S depot - Hansenn nearly falls into crevasse.
November 1		Dog and pony parties start out (13 days after Amundsen).
2
3	Arrives at 82°S depot.	Second motor sledge fails - Motor party man-hauls sledges.
4	Rest.
5	Rest.
6	Depart 82°S depot.
7	Rest.
8	Establishes depot at 83°S.
9
10	Sight mountains.
11	Ice Barrier starts to rise.
12	Reach 84°S - establishes depot.
13	Departs 84°S.
14	Reach 84°40'S.
15	Reach 85°S with land at the end of Ice Barrier nearby (peaks of 2,000 - 10,000 feet ahead - the Transantarctic Mountains) - estimate 683 miles to [[[Pole]]].
16	Establish depot and leaves 30 days supplies and take supplies for 60 days - 42 dogs remain - explores nearby land (Mount Betty a ridge overlooking the Ice Barrier.
17	Begins ascent - leaves document at depot describing condition of expedition and plan - 11 ¹/₂ miles and 2,000 rise in elevation.. Begin to double team dogs on sledges and move them in relay in places.
18	Crossing glaciated foothills of mountains small glaciers. Reach altitude of 4,550 feet and foot of Axel Heiberg Glacier between Mount Fridtjof Nansen and Mount Don Pedro Christophersen in the Queen Maud Mountains (part of the Transantarctic Mountains.
19	Ascending Axel Heiberg Glacier to 5,650 feet altitude and scouting route to Plateau.
20	Reach Antarctic Plateau at 10,920 after 19¹/₄ mile trek at 85°36'S. 24 dogs killed at camp named "Butcher's Shop". (18 dogs remain) Dogs eaten by surviving dos and men or cached for return.
21	Rest - Depot established.	Pony and dog party meets up with motor party 80°35'S.
22	Stalled by blizzard.
23	Stalled by blizzard.	173 miles from Beardmore Glacier.
24	Stalled by blizzard.	Two members of the motor party sent back.
25	Resume journey - One sledge left. Three sledges, each with six dogs continue. Moving in blizzard condition descending to 10,300 feet altitude.
26	18¹/₂ mile trek - 9,475 feet altitude.	Second Western Geological Party arrives at Granite harbor to begin work in the area of Mackay Glacier.
27	Begin to move between the Helland-Hansen Shoulder and Mounts Hansen, Wisting, Hassel, and Bjaaland. - reach 86°S - establish depot with six days supplies.
28	86° 21'S at foot of Devil's Glacier - Wisting nearly falls into crevasse - blocked by crevasses - scouting route forward - 8,650 feet altitude.	First pony shot and fed to dogs. Land sighted - Mount Markham.
29	9¹/₄miles covered - 8,960 feet altitude.	82°21'S.
30	Still traversing glacier.
December 1	Still traversing glacier.	82°47'S.
2	86° 47'S - 9,780 feet altitude - established depot - left reindeer clothing.	83°S.
3	Cross frozen valleys named Devil's Ballroom and His Majesty's Ballroom.
4	25 miles covered, reach 87°S - 10,100 feet altitude.
5	Nearly 25 miles covered, struggling with "ice waves" (sastrugi) - 11,070 feet altitude.	Near to "Gateway" to Beadmore Glacier - blizzard halts progress.
6	Passed 88°, camped at 88°9'S - no longer ascending.	Blizzard continues.
7	Pass 88°23'S Shackleton's Farthest South established depot 88°25'S.	Blizzard continues.
8	Rest - one dog goes missing ( 17 remaining dogs).	Blizzard continues.
9	88°29'S.	Ponies shot at Gateway to Beadmore Glacier.
10	88°56'S.
11	89°15'S.	Scott sends dogs back and begin ascent of glacier with party of 12 men.
12	89°30'S.	Struggling with soft snow left by blizzard.
13	89°45'S.	Ascend to 1,500 feet.
14	Trek 18¹/₂ miles to arrive a Pole] position as judged by reckoning of distance at 3 p.m. (times at meridian of Franheim) Area named King Haakon VII's Plateau. Observation of sun at midnight gives 89°56'S One dog killed (16 remaining).	Ascend to 2,000 feet.
15	Bjaaland, Hassell, and Wisting trek 12¹/₂ miles in three directions to "encircle" the pole area and set up markers (spare sledge runners). Amundsen and Hanssen take hourly sighting of sun from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and determine position to be 89°54' 30"S.	Ascend to 2,500 feet - 84°4'S.
16	One sledge left, continue with two sledges, each pulled by eight dogs. Trek additional 6.2 miles (10 km) to calculated position of [[[Pole]]] arrive at 11 a.m. Begin taking measurements of sun.
17	Complete measurements of sun. Bjaaland and Hanssen trek 4.3 miles (7 km) for second encircling. Set up tent with Norwegian flag and Fram's pendant. Named camp Polheim. 870 miles from Framheim base camp. Messages left, including one for Scott. Begin return trip. Amundsen at the [Pole] determining his position from that of the sun using a sextant. .
18		4,500 feet above Ice Barrier.
19	One dog killed.	Ascend to 5,800 feet.
20	One dog killed.	Scott reaches Antarctic Plateau with 11 other men - 85°7'S.
21
22		7,100 feet - four men sent back - 8 continue, 4 on skis, 4 on foot.
23		85°22'S.
24		8,000 feet.
25	Reach depot at 88°25'S	85°50'S.
26	Pass 88°S - Clearer view of Transantarctic Mountains convinces Amundsen that "this chain transverses the Antarctic continent".	86°2'S.
27
28
29
30	Pass 87°S
31		9,126 feet - 86°56'S - 3 degree depot established (3 degrees of latitude from the pole).
1912
January 1	Reach Devil's Glacier.	9,126 feet - 87°20'S.
2	Miss depot at 86° 47'S - clearer visibility makes area look very different on return trip.	9,980 feet.
3	Bjaaland and Hanssen go back 15 miles to locate depot and retrieve supplies.	10,180 feet.
4	Reach depot at "Butcher's Shop" at 85°36'S - Dogs fed well on carcases of dogs killed on outward journey. 45 days spent on the Antarctic Plateau.	Scott at 87°32'S - three men sent back - five continue in final push to pole - Scott, Henry Bowers, Edgar Evans, Lawrence Oates, and Edward Wilson. Bowers is on foot, the rest on skis. Terra Nova picks up Northern Party at Cape Adare and moves them to Evans Cove on the Victoria Land coast approximately half way to Cape Evans to carry out geological studies.
5	Descending Axel Heiberg Glacier.	10,320 feet, 87°57'S - struggling with "ice waves" (sastrugi).
6	Descending Axel Heiberg Glacier - dog killed - reach Ice Barrier at 11 p.m.	A hour into march discover sleeping bag left behind at night camp and must return to get it. Scott - "it's been about the hardest pull that we have had" - primarily because of the sastrugi - 88°7'S.
7	Reach depot at 85°S which contains 30 days supplies - Dog killed - 11 remaining.	Leave skis at camp because of sastrugi buy when sastrugi subside, return to camp to collect skis - 88°18'S.
8		Stalled by blizzard - First mention of wound on Evan's hand.
9	Reach 84°26'S - see two skua gulls Fram arrives at Bay of Whales to pick up expedition.	Pass 88°23'S Shackleton's Farthest South - 10,270 feet.
10	Reach 84°15'S.	Establish depot mid day at 88°29'S.
11		88°46'S.
12		88°57'S.
13	Reach depot at 83°S.	89°9'S.
14		Mid-day 89°20'53"S Three men sent back at 87°32'S arrive at top of Beardmore Glacier.
15		Establish last depot before pole 89°37'S. Terra Nova unable to pick up Second Western Geological Party because of ice.
16	Reach depot at 82°S the last deport established in prior season. Signs of recent presence of dogs - presumed to to those that strayed on outward journey. Japanese Expedition arrives at Bay of Whales.	Arrive at Amundsen's camp of December 13 (34 day later) at 89°45'S after sighting flag some distance before.
17		Follow Amundsen's sledge tracks but diverge to calculated position of the pole and begin to take observations of the sun to determine position accurately. Scott's team at [[[Pole]]] Scott at the [Pole] next to tent left by Amundsen's team. .
18	Pass 81°20'S - Observation of land east convinces Amundsen that land extends south from Edward VII Land to at least 84°S before turning west and reaching the transition between Ice Barrier and land south of 85° where the expedition crossed.	Begin 3¹/₂ mile trek to determined position of [[[Pole]]]. After 2 miles come to Amundsen's tent "[Polheim]]" and finds report and note left by Amundsen for Scott. Plant flag at closest position to pole (1¹/₂miles from Polheim).
19	Reach depot at 81°S.	Begin return journey - erect sail on sledge to aid progress.
20
21	Reach first/last snow beacon at 80°23'S - reach depot at 80°S.
22
23		Scott - "Evans is a good deal run down -- his fingers are badly blistered and his nose is rather seriously congested with frequent frost bites."
24		Bad weather - concern about how easily Oates and Evans get frostbitten.
25	Arrive back at Franheim, at 4 a.m. 99 days after departure, with two sledges and 11 dogs - estimate distance at 1,860 miles.	Arrive at Half Degree Depot.
26
27		Scott notes sleeping bags getting wetter.
28
29		Good march - Scott falls and hurts shoulder.
30	Expedition leaves Bay of Whales.	Another good march - Evan's fingers bad - Wilson strains tendon in leg.
31		Arrived at Three Degree Depot at 86°56'S.
February 1		Evan's fingers deteriorating - Wilson recovering.
2
3
4		Scott and Evans fall into crevasse - Transantarctic Mountains near Beardmore Glacier sighted.
5		Second Western Geological Party begin trekking south after waiting for Terra Nova for 20 days.
6		Scot, "Evans is the chief anxiety right now; his cuts and wounds suppurate, his nose looks very bad, and altogether he shows considerable signs of being played out."
7		Arrive at Mount Darwin depot at top of Beardmore Glacier. Have spent 48 days on the Antarctic Plateau.
8		Evans become detached from other four. Mid-day near Mount Buckley. Wilson observes fossilized leaves.
9		Gather occasional geological sample as they progressed.
10
11		Get lost and delayed in very difficult ice conditions on glacier - food running short.
12		Slow and difficult progress with disagreement within party on how best to proceed.
13		Arrive at mid-glacier depot. Scott: "Evans has no power to assist with camping work."
14
15
16		Evans shows changes in character which worry others about his condition.
17		Evans begins to fall behind. After he fails to catch up, other return and find him "on his knees with clothing disarranged, hands uncovered and frostbitten, and a wild look in his eyes." He is unable to continue and dies in the tent that night. They are near bottom of Beadmore Glacier.
18		Cross onto Ice Barrier and reach depot where ponies were killed. Plenty of food for first time in long while. Terra Nova unable to pick up Northern Party at Evans Cove but spots Second Western Geological Party trekking south and picks them up.
19		Struggling with bad surface conditions on Ice Barrier. Scott notes "some little alarm at the lateness of the season."
20		Slow progress over bad surface - just 7 miles.
21		Slow progress over bad surface - 8.5 miles.
22		Weather bad, stray off route.
23		Back on route 8.2 miles.
24		Reached next depot, not loss of fuel for cooking (evaporation of fuel in low temperatures was a common problem) - 10 days of food on hand - see notes from men turned back earlier in the expedition noting that they safely passed depot. Scott: "the rapid close of the season is ominous. . . It is a race between the season and hard conditions and our fitness and good food."
25		11.4 miles covered.
26		11.5 miles covered - Scott notes "very cold nights now and cold feet starting march, as day footgear doesn't dry at all." Apsley Cherry-Garrard and Dimitri Gerov leave Cape Evans on dog-pulled sledges with supplies for One Ton Depot.
27		Very cold -33°F at start of day -- 12.2 miles covered.
28		Continues very cold -33°F at start of march -- 11.5 miles covered.
29		Continues very cold -30°F at start of day.
March 1
2		Arrive at Middle Barrier Depot - "found a shortage of oil" (fuel for cooking). Oates' feet frost bitten - weather very bad 5.5 miles covered.
3		Struggling with cold, wild and surface conditions.
4		Slow going recognition that fuel shortage is critical and food must be eaten warm or cold. Apsley Cherry-Garrard and Dimitri Gerov arrive with dog-pulled sledges at One Ton Depot.
5		Oates' feet deteriorate.
6		Moving at less than a mile and hour - Oates unable to help pull on sledge and begins to slow others - 6.5 miles covered.
7	Amundsen arrives in Hobart, Tasmania and announces success.
8	Amundsen writes first account of expedition.
9		Arrive at Mount Hooper Depot - limited supplies found.
10		Growing recognition that Oates cannot make it back. Apsley Cherry-Garrard and Dimitri Gerov turn back from One Ton Depot.
11		Discussion of Oates condition. Seven days food to get 55 miles to One Ton Depot - at current pace of about six miles per day, expedition will not make it.
12
13
14		Mid-day temperature is C -43°F with strong wind.
15		Oates says he can't go on and asks to be left in sleeping bag. Others urge him on.
16		In morning in tent, Oates states "I am just going outside and may be some time" - he walks out of tent to death. Scott, "We all hope to meet the end with a similar spirit, and assuredly the end is not far." Apsley Cherry-Garrard and Dimitri Gerov arrive back at Hut Point.
17		Leave anything not critical behind.
18		21 miles from One Ton Depot at mi- day - Scott notes severe frost bite in right foot.
19		15.5 miles from One Ton Depot - Scott's foot deteriorate - "Amputation is the least I can hope for now - but will the trouble spread".
20		Scott, Wilson and Bowers stalled by blizzard 11 miles south of One Ton Depot - Wilson and Bowers plan to press ahead to depot and return with fuel.
21		Blizzard continues - all stay.
22		Blizzard continues - all stay.
23		Blizzard continues - all stay.
24
25
26		Edward Atkinson and Patrick Keohane leave Cape Evans on rescue mission.
27
28
29		Scott's last diary entry. Over prior days various letters were written to friends and colleagues and a "Message to the Public".
30		Atkinson and Keohane stop at Corner Camp and turn bad because of weather conditions convinced that the polar party has perished.
April 17		Attempt to reach party at Evans Cove from base at Cape Evans fails due to weather. Party overwinters in ice cave on nearby Inexpressible Island.
September 30		Northern Party at Inexpressible Island starts out for Cape Evans.
October 30		Atkinson leads search party from Cape Evans.
November 7		Northern Party arrives at Cape Evans.
12		Atkinson party finds tent and bodies of Scott, Wilson and Bowers along with diaries and letters.
15		Atkinson party finds Oates' sleeping bag but no body. Build a cairn at the location.
25		Atkinson party arrives back at Hut Point.
1913
January 18		Terra Nova arrives to collect expedition.

Citation

Saundry, P. (2011). Chronology of Amundsen and Scott Expeditions. Retrieved from http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Chronology_of_Amundsen_and_Scott_Expeditions

Chronology of Amundsen and Scott Expeditions

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