The depot at 83°, probably photographed by Bjaaland, who wrote in his diary, "Took a picture of the cairn with HH on top". [1]A storm allowed the Norwegians a day of rest, but Amundsen himself went back to the previous day's cairn to see the effect of the storm. It was still standing, but bent to leeward. "We shall give the cairns a new form hereafter." [2]
Three of the dogs followed him northwards, and vanished. "They were Lussi's lovers. I am afraid they have taken the road back to where we shot her." They were Bjaaland's best dogs; although his team was now somewhat understaffed and he found it harder to keep up, he still wrote in his diary, "Sun and summer, splendid going." [3]
Notes:
[1] Roald Amundsen Bildearkiv, Nasjonalbiblioteket. Note that this is dated "9-11-11" by the NB. The quote from Bjaaland's diary is found in Roland Huntford's Race for the South Pole : the expedition diaries of Scott and Amundsen (London : Continuum, c2010), p.116.
[2] Roald Amundsen, diary, 10 November, 1911, quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.437.
[3] Olav Bjaaland, diary, [date not given], quoted by Roland Huntford in Scott and Amundsen (New York : Putnam, 1980, c1979), p.437.
Hi
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading the post.
My Grand father was born on this day 100 years ago. He fought in ww2 in north Africa. An adventurous soul he certainly was. Sadly he is no longer with us but its funny how humans retain the memories we do! Born in Britain died in south Africa!
Keep up this blog its great.