North Pole expedition

Matthew Henson · 1908 CE – 1909 CE · Earth

Reach the North Pole.

Historical context

Reaching the North Pole in an era before aircraft meant months of travel over shifting ice. The expeditions relied entirely on Inuit families and dog teams, and on men like Henson who mastered both.

The voyage, step by step

1. Winter at Cape Sheridan

   1908 CE

   The Roosevelt is frozen in on the Ellesmere shore while sledges, fur clothing and dog teams are made ready.

2. Cape Columbia

   1908 CE

   The party leaves the supply ship at the northern tip of Ellesmere Island.

3. The Big Lead

   1909 CE

   A band of open water a quarter-mile wide cuts the trail and holds the whole expedition for six days.

4. Ootah, Egingwah, Seegloo, Ooqueah

   1909 CE

   Four Inughuit men are chosen for the last march, and it is Henson who can speak to them.

5. Over the polar ice

   1909 CE

   Henson drives the dog teams across shifting floes for weeks.

6. Claiming the pole

   1909 CE

   Peary and Henson report reaching the North Pole; the claim has never been fully settled.

Outcome

Claimed the pole; the claim remains disputed.

Matthew Henson

African-American explorer and dog-sled driver who reached the far north with Robert Peary.

Read on Wikipedia

Sources

• Matthew Henson — Wikipedia

Continue exploring

• North Pole attemptRobert Peary · 1908 CE – 1909 CE
• South Pole expeditionRoald Amundsen · 1910 CE – 1911 CE
• Terra Nova expeditionRobert Falcon Scott · 1910 CE – 1912 CE
• Northwest PassageRoald Amundsen · 1903 CE – 1906 CE