SECRETS OF POLAR TRAVEL BY ROBERT E. PEARY ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1917 Copyright, 1917, by The Century Co. Published, October, 1917 In my book “The North Pole” appeared a brief résumé, or synopsis, of my system of arctic exploration, which was the evolution of years of continuous practical work and experience in extreme high latitudes, wherein everything that could be thought of in the way of perfecting arctic methods and equipment was worked out. Ideas that in the

In my book “The North Pole” appeared a brief résumé, or synopsis, of my system of arctic exploration, which was the evolution of years of continuous practical work and experience in extreme high latitudes, wherein everything that could be thought of in the way of perfecting arctic methods and equipment was worked out. Ideas that in the mind or on paper appeared promising were tested relentlessly under the most hostile conditions. Those that failed under the test were abandoned, and those that ga

Of all the special tools that a polar explorer requires for the successful prosecution of his work, his ship stands first and preëminent. This is the tool which is to place him and his party and supplies within striking distance of his goal, the tool without which he can accomplish nothing. The builder of a polar ship should live with his craft from the time the keel is laid till she is complete and has made her trial trips. He should see that every timber that goes into her is sound, tough, and

In my polar parties the matter of personnel has been different from that of other expeditions because of my extensive utilization of the Eskimos. From the beginning of my interest in polar matters my conception of an ideal polar party was one in which the rank and file should be composed of Eskimos, with one or more white men in command. But I was not able to realize this ideal at the start of my polar work, and in my first expedition the entire work was done by the six members of my party. In m

The detail of equipping a polar expedition is like the detail of equipping an army for foreign service, with, however, this difference. After the expedition has cast loose from civilization there is no chance to rectify mistakes or omissions. No rush wires or cables can be sent back to ship this or that article by next train or steamer. The little ship which bears the hopes of a polar expedition must contain in its restricted space everything to supply all the needs of its people for two or thre

On July 6, 1 1908, a black, rakish-looking steamer moved slowly up the East River, New York, beside a puffing tug. Seen broadside on, this craft was as trim and rakish as a yacht; seen end on, the impression given was of the breadth of beam and solidity of a battle-ship. A sailor, glimpsing any feature of this vessel,—the slender, raking pole-masts; the big, elliptical smoke-stack; the sharply inclined stem; the overhanging stern; the sheer of the bows; the barrel at the mast-head,—would have no

The matter of winter quarters is one of pronounced importance to polar travelers, ranking second only to the question of an abundant supply of food. Warmth, dryness, and abundance of light are the great desiderata. A knowledge of Eskimo methods of house-building, combined with a little ingenuity, enables these needs to be secured with few and simple materials. In an experience extending over twenty-three years I have had occasion to prepare winter quarters afloat and ashore for parties of from t

The question of clothing is one of vital importance to the polar explorer, and it is a matter concerning which there is a wide difference of opinion among various authorities. Despite what some explorers say to the contrary, clothing made from the fur of arctic animals is the only kind suitable for serious work in these regions. Many, finding the fur clothing of their own particular expeditions unsatisfactory for the purposes to which they put it, have drawn general instead of specific conclusio

Next after the special ship, the most important tool in my campaign of polar work has been the Eskimo, as dog drivers. A fundamental principle of all my work has been the utilization of the Eskimos and dogs. I have used the Eskimos to a greater extent than any other explorer. They have formed the rank and file of my sledging- and hunting-parties, and have built my sledges, dog harnesses, and other equipment; the women have skilfully fashioned the fur clothing, essential for comfort in these regi

One of the basic principles of all my polar expeditions has been to depend upon the country itself for the fresh-meat supply. To this fact is due the entire absence of scurvy on all my voyages. Contrary to a general idea, the polar regions of northern Greenland, Ellesmere Land, and Grant Land have for the experienced hunter a considerable and most attractive fauna, and while there are certain parts where it is virtually impossible to find even so much as a stray polar hare, there are other regio

Thorough preparedness for a polar sledge journey is of vital importance, and no time devoted to the study and perfection of the equipment for a long journey can be considered wasted. Upon the perfection of this equipment depends the success of the expedition. It must be devised to meet every condition and every extreme, and my sledge-journeys have always been preceded by days and weeks, even months, of careful attention to the slightest details. To the inexperienced the amount of work this invol

Sledge-traveling is the other twin of ice navigation, the two together forming polar exploration. The purpose of sledge-traveling is the transformation of food into miles, and the test of its perfection is the maximum number of miles for the minimum amount of food. Sledge-traveling may be of several kinds. It may be over the frozen surface of polar seas, or along a coast line, or over the elevated snow surfaces of the great interior ice-caps of Greenland and the antarctic continent. In the attem

At the request of friends I have turned away briefly from other work to take up the threads of the past and write this book. That other work which has been demanding my attention has a very pronounced bearing on polar exploration, and in fact upon all exploration. Five years ago at the annual dinner of the Explorers’ Club I ventured the prophecy that in a few years the polar regions would be reconnoitered and explored through the air. The last three years of warfare abroad have forced the develo