| Sledging Speeds | |
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Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 The Paul Landry and Paul Crowley dog sledge dash to the Pole (April, 2000) is extremely helpful. Critics will point out that the average daily distance was only 10 miles or so. I assume that, as in Peary's case, there were many days of no travel or shortened travel due to weather, leads, bad ice conditions, etc. It would be interesting to know more about Landry's best days, etc. Most important, however, is their overall conclusion that Peary's distances are credible. I think the only published naysayer with any sledging experience is Herbert, whose methods were extremely different. Steger said pretty much the same thing, but he didn't actually turn back and return part way on his trip as Landry did. I am wondering who these people are who assure us that the distances were impossible. I don't know of any person who has had any ocean ice sledging experience who has criticized Peary's speeds in writing other than Herbert (or including Cook, if you believe he went any distance at all on the ocean ice). Of course, Rawlins' girlfriend's father Finn Ronne (Amundsen's captain) assured her who assured him that Amundsen didn't believe Peary; Nansen and Shakleton must have disbelieved Peary, since they supported him initially, but didn't come out and support him again when some of the antiPeary books started coming out, etc. etc. What do we have that has actually been published? 1. Gunnar Isaachsen, Sverdrup's captain, who said 70 miles between sleeps possible (AGS Review). 2. MacMillan, who made 37 miles a day on his own return from Crock land and repeatedly supported Peary's distances. 3. Fitzhugh Green (Mac's buddy). 4. Geoffrey Hattersley Smith and/or Eddie Shakleton (Ernie's boy, or actual, Lord Ernie's Lord-let). I need to check on this, but one or both sent letters to the London Times. Also, Hattersley Smith sent my father a letter (and my father didn't even have to date his daughter). 5. Will Steger, conqueror of both poles. In his 1986 trip, he came pretty close to matching Peary's final five marches. He went 90 degrees from the right direction for half a day in a white out because of some kind of confusion over the time, and he stopped for a day while his navigator tried to fix his bubble sextant, but if you back these out, as I recall he averaged about 24 miles a day for the last 5 or 6 marches. It's in the nav. foundation report, but probably needs some better fleshing out. 6. Probably can find something from Stefansson. 7. Bartlett, of course. Did a lot of sledging with Peary and after on the disastrous Karluk expedition. 8. MacIvor, of the Karluk expedition, is generally supportive of Peary, and got to be pretty could with a sledge getting to Wrangel Island, but this is probably grasping a bit. 9. Now, Landry. Of course, all of these people were the paid stooges of the Peary cabal, or on the payroll of the sinister National Geographic Society (or at least used to get their kicks looking at bare-breasted women in the National Geographic Magazine), so none of them are to be believed. Instead, we are to believe a librarian, an astronomer, a preacher, a sea captain from Iowa (go figure) and, of course, Fraudulent Fred Cook. By the way, Bryce admits that Hall was wildly anti Peary and pro Cook. I am sure there are others. Maybe something from Rasmussen, Fiala, Freuchen, although I don't know how much these guys did on the sea ice. Also, some Japanese guy (Uemeia, or something like that) went to the pole with a Peary descendant. I think he had something favorable to say. Doug |
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| © 2002 by Douglas R. Davies. All rights reserved. No part of this text may be used without written permission from Douglas R. Davies. Email request |