The first attempts at motor transport in Antarctica, 1907–1911

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Dibbern, J. Stephen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1976
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Antarctic; Shackleton; South Pole; Fuchs; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar Record; South pole
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400000309; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400000309

One of the most spectacular achievements during the late 1950's was the attainment of the South Pole and the subsequent crossing of Antarctica by Vivian Fuchs with the support of Edmund Hillary. Both parties reached the pole driving over-snow vehicles ranging from modified farm tractors to mechanically complex Sno-cats. The first and last bases on the crossing were named after Scott and Shackleton, in honour of Britain's two most celebrated names during the ‘heroic age’ of Antarctic exploration. The fact that it was Shackleton and Scott who introduced the ‘motor age’ to Antarctica is perhaps even more significant. Their attempts to introduce motor transport to Antarctica make an interesting footnote to their famous exploits.