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Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

nytimes.com

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Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#31

Post by paultannenbaum »

dbatten wrote: post #30

Let me preface this by saying I don't want to diminish what these guys are doing at all... this is an incredible feat, no matter what. However, I'm genuinely curious, and I'm sure other people are as well: Looking at the map, the definition of "across" Antarctica seems a little bit squishy to me. Does crossing one small portion of one side of the continent count as going "across" it? Is this the New York Times trying…

The journey they are attempting is a known route first attempted by Ernest Shackleton, and is now reffered to as shackletons crossing. It has been attempted several times but never completed. For more backstory on the history of the route, reading David Grann's excellent New Yorker article will fill in a lot of the gaps.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark...

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#32

Post by gist »

The way I think I have no clue why people take risks like this other than for the obvious fame and fortune. Just the way I am it seems to be either narcissistic or foolish. I am sure others spur them on because what is not to like about being the friend of someone who does something where you don't suffer any large downside (other than you lose them as a friend).

Also there always seems to be a bit of 'watch car racing for the crashes' or 'watch ice hockey for the fights'. It seems to be something that people are interested because there is the chance of interesting devastation or perhaps elation after the fact that nothing happened.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#33

Post by alexlrobertson »

mattmanser wrote: post #29
pen2l wrote: post #3

I just find it really inspiring to know we have the presence of such adventurous explorers. Once we find ways to travel to other stars, we'll need these men to explore once again.

Inspiring? Having watched Everest and read Cold: Extreme Adventures at the Lowest Temperatures on Earth my view has changed to that these people are selfish glory seekers who can potentially cause a lot of grief and heartache for the people they leave behind when they screw up. As well as huge expense for rescue operations (which then put other people's life at risk). I sort of understand your pov, but in this day an…

"Deliverance From 27,000 Feet" [1] in the New York Times really changed my view in a similar way. While the most successful and visible adventurers are consummate professionals there is an unseen tier of adventurers that take on more than they are trained for seeking glory without the required experience.

1. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/18/sports/everes...

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#34

Post by dbcurtis »

neaden wrote: post #24
bydo wrote: post #8

Related, an excellent long-form New Yorker feature about another recent attempt: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark...

That's a very beautiful, though ultimately sad, story. It inspired me to read Endurance which is just an amazing tale. Part of me does wonder if we over valorize these tales of suffering though. Is it worth all the death, injuries, and years separated from families?

You make a good point. Shackleton’s quirks are diminished in most histories. He could be a bit capricious in decision making. Scott was an utter fool, his reputation propped up after his disastrous expedition by the Admiralty and his widdow.

Roland Huntford’s twin biography of Scott and Amundson is a study in contrasts. In Antarctica, there are no preditors and no microbes. The only things that can kill you are bad planning and poor execution. Scott died with his polar party from bad nutrition and poor judgement. Amundson’s polar party got there first, got home again, and gained weight on the trip.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#35

Post by dang »

franze wrote: post #14

the current HN title doesn't make any sense: "Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone" two men can by definition not be alone.

It reads fine to me, just like one can say that Lindberg and Earhart were two people who flew across the Atlantic alone.

I notice NYT later added the caveat "and unsupported". There must be some precedent that made them qualify the original claim, i.e. someone who did it alone but "supported".

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#36

Post by Erik816 »

jshevek wrote: post #25
jniedrauer wrote: post #19

The closest I've ever come to getting a glimpse of what these two are going through is a 1100 mile trek through the Appalachian mountains one winter. It was fun, but I don't think I ever want to do that again. When the temperature drops below about 0* F, there are only two things you can do: Move, or get in your sleeping bag. After a couple months of 14 hours a day alone in the frigid darkness, you start to lose your…

Hiking and camping in cold weather can be an extremely effective weight loss strategy. If done with good nutrition, enough sleep, proper gear, it can even be a healthy weight loss strategy. I'm surprised no one seems to ever discuss this, with so much of our culture seemingly obsessed with losing weight.

Our culture is obsessed with talking about or thinking about losing weight, preferably with no discomfort or sacrifices involved. So the exact opposite of actually doing something really hard that will result in losing weight. That doesn't sell books.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#37

Post by moate »

gist wrote: post #32

The way I think I have no clue why people take risks like this other than for the obvious fame and fortune. Just the way I am it seems to be either narcissistic or foolish. I am sure others spur them on because what is not to like about being the friend of someone who does something where you don't suffer any large downside (other than you lose them as a friend). Also there always seems to be a bit of 'watch car raci…

>>The way I think I have no clue why people take risks like this other than for the obvious fame and fortune.

Those are both pretty great motivators. There's always going to be daredevils and explorers who are in it for the thrill as well. Being "The first to..." or "the only to..." is a superlative people feel might be worth the risk. Besides, without people pushing the limits, we never know what might be possible.

And there's some societal value to events like this. Maybe we find out something about survival in hostile environments or mission logistics or how to run a proper search and rescue operation.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#38

Post by ryanwaggoner »

Erik816 wrote: post #36
jshevek wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hiking and camping in cold weather can be an extremely effective weight loss strategy. If done with good nutrition, enough sleep, proper gear, it can even be a healthy weight loss strategy. I'm surprised no one seems to ever discuss this, with so much of our culture seemingly obsessed with losing weight.

Our culture is obsessed with talking about or thinking about losing weight, preferably with no discomfort or sacrifices involved. So the exact opposite of actually doing something really hard that will result in losing weight. That doesn't sell books.

Ha, now I'm imagining this book:

The Frigid Formula: How to Rediscover the Ancient Secret to Rapid Weight Loss

Inside, only one line: "Hike the Appalachian Trail in winter, eating only what you can carry or kill."

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#39

Post by bmj »

paultannenbaum wrote: post #31
dbatten wrote: post #30

Let me preface this by saying I don't want to diminish what these guys are doing at all... this is an incredible feat, no matter what. However, I'm genuinely curious, and I'm sure other people are as well: Looking at the map, the definition of "across" Antarctica seems a little bit squishy to me. Does crossing one small portion of one side of the continent count as going "across" it? Is this the New York Times trying…

The journey they are attempting is a known route first attempted by Ernest Shackleton, and is now reffered to as shackletons crossing. It has been attempted several times but never completed. For more backstory on the history of the route, reading David Grann's excellent New Yorker article will fill in a lot of the gaps. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark...

I suspect should one of them be successful, the next challenge will be a proper direct crossing.

Re: Two men are trying to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone

#40

Post by Steko »

pen2l wrote: post #3

I just find it really inspiring to know we have the presence of such adventurous explorers. Once we find ways to travel to other stars, we'll need these men to explore once again.

Those places will be well explored by robots by the time we get around to sending people (assuming we ever do which I have my doubts of).
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