Sir
Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated attempt to lead the the first Trans-Antarctic expedition. Shackleton had twice before attempted to reach the
South Pole, only to have
Roald Amundsen's expedition get their first. So he and 27 men attempted the crossing ... only to never reach Antarctica
- October 26, 1914
- The Endurance departs Buenos Aires, Argentina. The group is officially known as th British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
- November 5, 1914
- The crew arrives at Grytviken, South Georgia Island. They spend the next month in last-minute preparation.
- December 5, 1914
- Despite warnings from the whalers of heavy ice activity, the Endurance sets out across the Weddell Sea. The four-foot thick bow of the Endurance punches through the pack ice.
- January 18, 1915
- The Endurance is trapped in ice, which freezes around it. After failed attempts to dig it out, the men set up to live in the trapped ship for some time. Building out a luxury area they call the Ritz for evening socialization, playing football on the ice, and raising puppies become major pastimes, while the crew awaits a shift in the ice that may release the Endurance. As food becomes short, raising puppies is no longer an option.
- November 21, 1915
- The prayed-for shift in the ice happens, but not as expected. The ice floes compress the Endurance, crushing her mercilessly before drawing her into a watery grave.
- December 29, 1915
- After attempting to drag the lifeboats to open sea (having consumed the sled dogs already), the crew sets up Patience Camp on an ice floe, awaiting spring. Food supplies are short - penguin and seal are the main staples.
- April 9, 1916
- The 28 men climb into the three lifeboats, and begin rowing north to Elephant Island. After one camp on an ice floe, the crew must endure sleeping in the boats for the remainder of the journey.
- April 16, 1916
- Setting foot on land for the first time since leaving Grytviken, the crew reaches uninhabited Elephant Island. Salvaging two of the lifeboats to make the third more oceanworthy, Shackleton commissions the James Caird.
- April 24, 1916
- Shackleton and five others set out in the Caird for the 800 mile journey to South Georgia Island. The remaining crew are left to sustain themselves, knowing that if Shackleton fails, no one knows where they are, or even that they are still alive.
- May 10, 1916
- The Caird reaches the west coast of South Georgia Island. The next nine days are spent preparing three men to cross the island - putting screws into the soles of their shoes, catching food, resting.
- May 19, 1916
- Shackleton and two others set out to cross the island, covering 30 miles in 36 grueling hours. The reach the whaling station, and a ship is sent to recover the three men on the far coast.
- August 30, 1916
- After an unsuccessful attempt, the 22 remaining crewmen are rescued from Elephant Island.
http://main.wgbh.org/imax/shackleton/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton/1914/