Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
145
Figure 5.7. (opposite)
Amundsen's map of new
lands and his track to the
South Pole. Refer to the
text for details of the
geography.
loomed to the west, and then they were gone. These were named the Helland Hansen
Mountains and noted as the only mountains to the party's right once they had reached
the plateau (Fig. 5.7). On the 28th new mountains had appeared intermittently to the
southeast. The following day the weather cleared, oVering better views. The closest land
was a set of four rounded massifs, which stood out separately from the mountains behind
them. Amundsen named the quartet after his steadfast sledgemates, Hanssen, Wisting,
Bjaaland, and Hassel, although today only the names Mount Hassel and Mount Bjaaland
remain on the pair of islands to the southeast of Devil's Glacier.
The mountains beyond were a magnificent line of peaks that trailed oV into cloud
at their southeastern extremity. Amundsen estimated them to be ten thousand to fifteen
thousand feet high (we know today that the lower estimate is their highest) and recorded
his impressions: “Peaks of the most varied forms rose high in the air, partly covered with
driving clouds. Some were sharp, but most were long and rounded. Here and there one
saw bright, shining glaciers plunging wildly down the steep sides, and merging into the
underlying ground in fearful confusion.”
The last appearance of the mountains was the day the party left the Devil's Ballroom,
reaching out to a vanishing point at 87° S. On December 4-6, the party covered twenty-
five miles each day, the latter two days under full blizzard conditions. With a shout on the
morning of the 7th the party hoisted the Norwegian flag onto Hanssen's sledge as they
passed Shackleton's farthest south, 88° 23′ S. Day after day they drew closer to their goal,
wondering whether they would find footprints of Scott's party welcoming their arrival.
On December 14, when the men awakened, as always, at 6:00 A.M., they found a fine,
clear morning. Perhaps with an extra swagger to their gait, the men knew that this would
be the day. By 10:00 A.M., the sky had clouded over. When a noon reading of the sun was
not possible, they pushed on by dead reckoning. Amundsen recorded the moment:
At three in the afternoon a simultaneous “Halt!” rang out from the drivers. They had
carefully examined their sledge-meters, and they all showed the full distance—our
Pole by dead reckoning. The goal was reached, the journey ended.
Ceremoniously, with all five hands on the staV, the Norwegians planted the flag in the
name of King Haakon VII.
The men made camp and retired for a spartan celebratory dinner, with a small piece
of seal meat each. After dinner Amundsen pulled out a pipe that carried the names of
many Arctic landmarks. On this he carved “South Pole,” and Wisting pulled out a secret
plug of tobacco that he gave to the leader as a gift. Everyone turned in for a few hours of
sleep, then was back outside again for a midnight sighting on the sun. Their calculations
put the latitude at 89° 56′ S.
Amundsen's plan from here was methodical. They would “encircle” the South Pole
by sending three men out 12½ miles on paths at right angles to each other and the in-
ward route. While Wisting, Hassel, and Bjaaland marched out their lines, Amundsen and
Hanssen rearranged the provisions onto two sledges and undertook a series of hourly sun
sightings to accurately determine their longitude.
On the morning of December 16, the lightened party moved toward the recalcu-
