Saturday 31 May 2014

30th August
Providence favoured us, and we were able to reach Elephant Island in thick fog without ice to stop us. At 11:40 am, the fog lifted and my men on Elephant Island were finally rescued. We can finally go home.
25th August
After three more failed attempts to reach Elephant Island, I begged the Chilean government for the use of Yelcho, a small steam tug. The government agreed and I am about to sail to Elephant Island and rescue my men.
24th May
After arriving at Stromness station, I immediately secured the use of a ship to take me to Elephant island. However, the ship hadn't been built for ice breaking, and we had no choice but to retreat. I had contacted London by cable and asked for a ship but they replied that no ship is going to be available before October, which by then would be too late.
21st May
We have done it. We have reached Husvik Harbour and with it, safety. I have no doubt that Providence guided us...I know that during that long and racking march of thirty-six hours over the unnamed mountains and glaciers it seemed to me often that we were four, not three.
20th May
Since we didn't have a map, the route was purely conjectural. At dawn we ascended 910 m to observe the terrain and to our frustration, it seemed that we had gone the wrong way. Therefore, we had to backtrack, wasting time and energy.
19th May
The whaling stations are situated on the north side of the island and with the condition of both the men and the boat, we will have to make it overland across uncharted territory.
10th May
Finally! After 14 days of battling the sea, we reached King Hakkon bay on South Georgia. Now we are going to rest and recuperate while I plan the next move.
5th May
The largest wave I have ever seen in my 26 years at sea nearly destroyed our boat today. I pray it won't happen again.
24th April
I had abandoned the idea to go to Deception Island due to the state of my party. Instead, I will travel 1300km to South Georgia in the improvise James Caird with a small group of men. We are going to attempt the impossible.
15th April
Yesterday we reached the southeast coast of Elephant Island but could not land due to the cliffs. Today we went around and reached the northern shore, where we landed on a sliver of beach. We are saved.
9th April
We set off on the life boats towards Deception Island. I hope we will survive
8th April
Patience camp has ended. The ice floe broke up and we are now on a small triangular chunk of ice. I this breaks up then it will be disaster. I have decided that we will reach, if possible the distant Deception island due to its timber, from which we can build a new boat.
2nd February
Today I sent a larger party back to recover the third lifeboat. Food shortage had become acute and we shot all but two teams of dogs as the amount of seal meat required for them was too much.
28th December
Weather conditions haven't improved and we only achieved 12 km in these seven days and we have set up another camp, dubbed "Patience Camp".
21st December
The Endurance sank last month and now I have called for a second march to the south pole.
1st November
The march had to be called off due to the horrid weather conditions. We have instead set up camp on the ice.
30th October
Now that our ship is destroyed, the original plan was scrapped and I ordered an overland trip to the south pole. We marched out today, dragging the lifeboats on sledges.
27th October
I have done it. I gave the order to abandon ship. Everything that was essential was salvaged from the wreckage of our beloved ship. God save us all.
24th October
The starboard side of the Endurance pushed against a large ice floe today and the pressure is making the hull bend and splinter. We transferred three lifeboats and our supplies onto the ice and did our best to shore up the cracks in the hull.
30th September
Today, the ship suffered the worst squeeze ever. Around us, the pressure caused by the ice was awe-inspiring. The Endurance will not hold out much longer.
1st August
The ice floe is breaking up and our ship is being put under extreme pressure. I hope that it will not break into pieces.
22nd July
Today I spotted signs of the ice breaking up. Could this be finally what we have all been waiting for?

Friday 30 May 2014

24th May
Today is Empire day and we are all celebrating it. In these past few weeks, I have encouraged the men to exercise regularly and the dogs are raced competitively occasionally. We are going to attempt some theatricals tonight to raise the moral of the men.
14th April
This morning, I spotted a nearby pack of ice piling and rafting against the masses of ice. If the Endurance is caught in it, she will be crushed like an eggshell. I do not know when we will be able to break free of this ice.
20th March
We had been doing nothing but drift for these 2 months and by my calculations, we have travelled only 95 miles since the 19th of January. However, along with winter, the speed of our drift has increased. We can only hope that it will allow us to get to the south pole quicker.
24th February
Hi all, I'm feeling very tired. The ice floe doesn't look like it's going to melt before spring so i just gave the order to abandon our routine and switch to winter rations. We have put the dogs into ice kennels, or "dogloos" as the men called them and converted the interior of the ship into winter quarters. The men are getting restless and I am starting to have doubts....

Monday 26 May 2014

14th February
The ship is still stuck and I had ordered men to go on to the ice with ice-chisels, prickers, saws and picks, to try and force a passage, but the labor proved futile. I have not lost hope yet but I fear that we may have to spend the winter on this pack ice.
21st January
The men are having fun and they just discovered the snow on the ice floe was perfect for forming snowballs. Now they're all playing and I got hit twice already trying to send this blog off. Hold on, I need to go thrash some juveniles!
19th January
Disaster! The Endurance got trapped in an ice floe! We were sailing in the Weddley sea when suddenly, our ship hit an ice floe and froze hard! We can only hope that the ice will thaw soon. Until then, we're trapped.
31st December
Today is the new year's eve. I wish everyone a happy new year!
23rd December
Hi all, sorry I haven't posted for quite some time. We're now moving southward and some early ice was encountered. Our progress was slowed and it required me to help. Otherwise, things are going smoothly. The dogs are great companions and our food stores are plentiful.The morale is great and the men are all happy. (as happy as being in the antarctic ocean can be)

6th December
Things are still going smoothly. My crew, all handpicked men are starting to get together. Last night, our meteorologist captain Hussey played the banjo for us and we all socialized and had fun. It is absolutely crucial for us to be able to work closely together as there are hard times ahead of us and we will depend on each other.
5th December
Things are going well. We received an enthusiastic sending-off at the docks.The Endurance is a true beauty. I had been amazed by all the donations I received from everyone and i am really happy at this display of public support. For those who don't know, my crew and I are going to arrive at the antarctic and travel across the continent (2,900 km!). Behind us, the support ship Aurora followed, with my friend captain Aeneas Makintosh in command. My expedition has been grandly named the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. I hope this journey will go smoothly. Until then, goodbye!