The Worst Journey in the World: Antarctica 1910-1913, by Apsley Cherry-Garrard

The Worst Journey in the World is an account by Apsley Cherry-Garrard of the tragic 1910-1913 British expedition to Antarctica led by Robert Falcon Scott, with Scott and four companions freezing to death as they attempted to return to base camp after making it to the South Pole, only four weeks after Roald Amundson first reached the South Pole.  The book itself is a true masterpiece in travel writing.  Cherry-Garrard was both honest and modest in his memoir, sharing vivid details on the trials and tribulations of Antarctic exploration and on the preparation, motivation, and teamwork required to battle such harsh conditions.  He also includes numerous excerpts from logs from fellow explorers.  Scott’s team truly tested the limits of human suffering, confronting horrendous weather conditions, frequent frostbite, and a constant (and often realized) fear of plunging into an unseen crevice.  The author’s primary objective for himself was a special expedition with two colleagues to recover Emperor penguin eggs in the name of scientific study, a trek made under complete darkness and terrible weather where they barely made it back to camp alive.  The final part of the book recounts Scott’s final and catastrophic trip to their ultimate destination, the South Pole.  Only five explorers were selected to make the fated final plunge, with Cherry-Garrard and most of the others acting as support crew who returned early to base camp.  All in all, The Worst Journey in the World is a touching and dramatic story, and a must read for adventure book enthusiasts.