THE SECOND WINTER--FINDING OF THE POLAR PARTY


The foregoing story of triumph and disaster going hand in hand to Scott
dwarfed the remaining chapters of the Expedition's history into
insignificance. I venture, however, to give a resume of what was
happening elsewhere in this region at the time.

The Norwegian explorers commenced their trip homeward to Framheim in the
Bay of Whales, a distance of 870 English miles, on December 17, 1911 and
made the amazing marching average of 22 1/2 miles a day for this
distance.

On January 25, 1912, at 4 a.m., Amundsen's men regained the shelter of
their winter quarters, when poor Scott was still only 30 miles from the
Pole on his return journey.

This undoubtedly establishes the superiority of dogs in great numbers for
Polar sledge travelling, for Scott delayed his start on account of the
inability of his ponies to face the severity of the Barrier weather
conditions before November 1. Peary in the North had already with dogs
achieved what Amundsen did in the South. Captain Amundsen has always
expressed his wonder at our performance--and in his modest way he told me
he himself could never have manhauled as Scott's men did.

Concerning the attempts to support the Southern party, Scott's
instructions were quite clear, and they were certainly obeyed. As a
matter of fact there was never any anxiety felt for the Southern party
until after March 10. They themselves never imagined they would reach Hut
Point before that time, and as the last supporting party had won through