Michael Burgan - Fighting to Survive the Polar Regions: Terrifying True Stories

Douglas Mawson was just one of several explorers traveling across Antarctica in 1911 and 1912. When Mawson left Australia in December 1911, Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott were each attempting to reach the South Pole. Mawson had met Scott previously in 1910. The explorer had asked Mawson to join his expedition. Mawson said no, since Scott wasnt interested in exploring Antarcticas northern coast. Mawson later learned that Scott had lost to Amundsen in the race to the South Pole. Scott and the rest of his five-man team died on their return journey.

Roald Amundsen and his team of sled dogs at the South Pole on December 14, 1911

The danger of falling into crevasses and losing dogs only seemed to grow as the team went on. Ninnis started to fall into a crevasse but was able to pull himself out. One sledge nearly fell into another crevasse, but its runners caught in the ice before it went too far. However, the team lost several dogs. One wandered off and was never seen again. The team also killed some dogs that couldnt keep up the pace. Their meat became food for the remaining dogs.

Despite the setbacks, after about a month, the team had covered almost 300 miles (483 km). On December 14, the men woke to sun and relatively warm temperatures, about 21 F (-6 C). That day Mertz was traveling on skis when he signaled that he was crossing a crevasse. Mawson passed a warning back to Ninnis, who was guiding the last sledge. Mawson then continued on. But then he saw that Mertz had stopped and was looking behind him. When Mawson turned to look, Ninnis and his dogs had vanished.

Mawson and Mertz went back to the crevasse. A snow bridge had given way, revealing a gap about 11 feet (3.4 meters) wide. When Mawson looked down, he could see one of the dogs on a shelf of ice, some 150 feet (46 m) below. But there was no sign of Ninnis. Mawson and Mertz shouted down into the gap, but they didnt get a response. Ninnis was dead.

The team didnt just lose a trusted companion. The sledge Ninnis was steering had carried most of the teams food and important equipment. Mawson figured they had enough food left to last about 10 days. That night the men boiled their empty food bags to get the last crumbs out of them. They fed leather to the remaining dogs.

The next day and only luck would decide if they won.

The group suffered a terrible blow when Ninniss sledge fell into a deep crevasse. Along with Ninnis, the team lost several dogs, the tent, clothing, and most of the food.

Day after day, the two men traveled west. Some days were clear. But other days the snow whipped around them. They ate only the smallest amounts of food, hoping to make what they had last as long as possible. As they grew weaker and the number of dogs fell to three, they threw away what they could to lighten the load on the sledge. More than a week after Ninniss death, they still hadnt reached the halfway point back to the base.

On December 28, Mawson and Mertz killed the last dog. But its meat lasted only for a few days. As the New Year began, Mertz showed signs of failing health. His energy faded, his fingers were frostbitten, and patches of skin fell off his legs. He stopped eating solid food, getting down only some powdered milk mixed with water.

By January 7, Mertzs poor health slowed the men down to only about 1 mile (1.6 km) each day. At this rate, they would never reach the base by January 15. Still, Mawson knew he couldnt leave Mertz behind. That day, however, Mertz had what Mawson called fits. He was too weak to even leave his sleeping bag to relieve himself. Early on the morning of January 8, Mertz died. Mawson would have to cross the remaining frozen miles alone.