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Divers to explore Erebus under the ice
Divers will brave Arctic ice to unlock secret of Franklin’s doomed voyage
Divers from the Canadian navy and marine archaeologists from Parks Canada will attempt to explore the wreck of Franklin's ship Erebus, discovered last year, while it is under full sea ice.
“It will undoubtedly be a daunting task, because the weather in April is still grim ( Read more... ) -
Mawson: And the Ice Men of the Heroic Age: Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen by Peter Fitzsimons
This book is on sale tonight on Amazon for $0.63. Here's the link. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005TD2OPC. I don't know how long it will be at that price, and haven't read it yet, but at this price...;) -
Not the Cans After All
Lead in Franklin Expedition remains likely not from canned foodA new study on the remains of the sailors found on Beechey Island has found that the lead contamination in their bones was too high and evenly spread to have come from the solder on their cans of food or from the lead piping in the ships, debunking one of the long-standing points in the ( Read more... ) -
Shackleton's Whisky Goes Home
An unexpected close to the Saga of the Cape Royds Whisky:
19th Century Whisky Goes Back On the IceAfter sampling some with a syringe through a cork, replicating the recipe, and creating a limited run of reproductions, they're putting the lost-and-found crates of unopened Mackinlay back where they found them. 'If Shackleton couldn't have a dram, no ( Read more... ) -
History: Alive and Kicking
So then someone questioned received wisdom and found out there's actual documentary proof that Scott wasn't an idiot:
Scott Could Have Been Saved Had His Orders Been Followed
Captain Scott of the Antarctic may have returned alive from the South Pole if officers under his command had not disobeyed orders he had left for them, according to new ( Read more... ) -
not necessary
I confess.
In the first chapter of a library book on a yacht race, I read something like this (paraphrased, since I've wiped it out of my memory): "A prize bungler, Scott...."
I carefully crossed out the first phrase. With ink.
I confess but I do not feel ashamed.
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I ran across this ....
"Emerson said that an institution is the lengthened shadow of a man. The Scott Polar Research Institute, now an internationally renowned centre and the heart of British polar studies, lie's in Deb's [Debenham's] friendly shadow. After Cherry died, Deb wrote to his widow, "Though I called the work I did over the PRI "in memory of the Pole Party", ( Read more... ) -
They're At It Again
Search for lost Franklin ships launched in Canada's ArcticIt's quite an in-depth article, actually, not just about the backstory but about the sovereignty issues at play, which apparently justify the increased commitment of time and money to this year's endeavour, despite Parks Canada's overall budget being cut dramatically. The politics aren't ( Read more... ) -
Courtauld and Greenland
Heads up on a charming (and very short) write-up on Augustine Courtauld's adventures in Greenland in 1930-31, over on Futility Closet. Really makes you appreciate the simple things!