Setting Up Camp

Part Two, Chapter One: Setting Up Camp 

Term: inference

Part two begins with the men abandoning the Endurance. The men quickly began creating a somewhat reasonable campsite on a huge floe of ice. Once morning arrived, and the men had gotten a few hours of needed sleep, they traveled back to the Endurance to retrieve their supplies. However, they could not take all of their supplies with them. "Shackleton called all hands together into the center of the circle of tents. His face was grave. He explained it was imperative that all weight be reduced to the barest minimum" (Lansing 64). He explained that each man could only take clothes, a sleeping bag, tobacco, and a small amount of personal gear. From past experiences, Shackleton knew the possible dangers of too much supplies. "From studying the outcome of past expeditions, he believed that those that burdened themselves with equipment to meet every contingency had fared much worse than those that had sacrificed total preparedness for speed" (Lansing 65). These two quotes show how Shackleton used his recollection of past expeditions to help ensure his crew's safety. These quotes help one recognize just how much knowledge and experience it took to be a successful leader in the early 1900s. These early travelers developed insightful ways of navigation that now serve as the basis for many explorers today. Expedition leaders continue to follow these helpful techniques of travel during their own journeys.