Dan Snow's History Hit

Scott's Last Days in the Antarctic

Mar 28, 2023

Tim Maltin, a Titanic expert, examines the chilling details of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's doomed Antarctic expedition. He reveals how Scott's traditional methods and gear faltered against Roald Amundsen's efficient tactics. The discussion also highlights Scott's harrowing last days, marked by starvation and fierce weather. Intriguingly, Maltin connects Scott's tragedy to the Titanic disaster, pointing out how thermal inversions misled both crews, showcasing a haunting parallel in their fates.

34:14

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Episode guests

Tim Maltin

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Quick takeaways

Scott's expedition failed due to both poor preparation and the treacherous effects of thermal inversion, highlighting the unpredictability of polar explorations.

The rivalry between Scott and Amundsen underscores contrasting methodologies in exploration, revealing how decisive tactics can lead to success in extreme conditions.

Deep dives

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Scott's Last Days in the Antarctic

04:03

Intro

4min

The Antarctic Race: Scott vs. Amundsen

13min

Scott's Last Days in the Antarctic

4min

The Tragic Journey to the South Pole

13min

Mirages of Misfortune: Parallel Tales of Scott and Titanic

2min

Exploring Historical Journeys and Modern Connectivity

2min

Captain Robert Falcon Scott died in his tent in Antarctica in March 1912 during his failed effort to become the first person to reach the South Pole. He'd just missed out to the Norwegians under explorer Roald Amundsen. You might think the British had no chance from the beginning- Amundsen's crew were wearing sealskins and using dogs, sledding 50 miles a day while Scott's team were outfitted in kit from Bond Street, covering just 10 miles a day. The motorised vehicles they took lasted only a couple of days; one sank through the ice the moment they took it off the ship. But, Tim Maltin's new research suggests there was something more unusual else at play that led to their failure and ultimately Scott's death: thermal inversion. The same meteorological phenomenon that caused the Titanic to hit the iceberg just two weeks later.

Tim joins Dan on the podcast to discuss the rivalry between two great explorers, the similarities and differences between their expeditions and he takes Dan through the gruelling last months of Scott's expedition, what happened the night of Scott's death and the discovery of their bodies, months later.

Produced by James Hickmann and mixed by Dougal Patmore

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