Captain Scott's last camp, Ross Ice Shelf

摘要

On 19 March 1912, Captain R.F. Scott, Dr E.A. Wilson, and Lt H.R Bowers reached a latitude of 79° 40'S during their return journey from the South Pole. There they camped and were fatally delayed by a blizzard. The date of Scott's last diary entry is 29 March 1912 and he died on, or shortly after, that date, with his two companions, of starvation and cold. They had left their base at Cape Evans in stages from 24 October 1911 with a party of 16. Relay parties returned on 11 and 21 December 1911, and on 4 January 1912. Five men attained the South Pole on 17 January 1912 where they found that an expedition, led by R.E.G. Amundsen from Norway, has preceded them on 14 December 1911. 33 days had elapsed between the departure of the Norwegian party from the pole and Scott's arrival there. During the return journey over the Ross Ice Shelf, roughly along the 169°E meridian, two of the party of five died: E. Evans on 17 February 1912 and L.E.G. Oates on, or shortly after, 16 March 1912. The last camp was found by a search party on 12 November 1912. Inside the tent were the three frozen explorers, their diaries and last letters, other records, exposed photographic film, geological specimens, and equipment. The site was carefully examined. Scientific and geographical items (including navigation calculations, film, and sketch books), personal papers and letters, a letter to King Haakon of Norway from Amundsen, and a few artefacts (including some left by Amundsen), were gathered. The bodies in their sleeping bags, with the tent, which was collapsed over them, their sledge, and other equipment were left. A large cairn of snow blocks, surmounted by a cross made from ski, was erected over the site. The last camp was only 11 nautical miles (20 km) from One Ton Depot, which had been placed at 79° 28' 53"S, 169° 22' 04"E for the returning polar party. It was approximately 220 km from the safety of the shelter at Hut Point on Ross Island and a further 26 km across sea ice to the base at Cape Evans.