Chasing Shackleton: Re-creating the World's Greatest Journey of Survival Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Jarvis Page | Language: English | ISBN:
0062282735 | Format: EPUB
Chasing Shackleton: Re-creating the World's Greatest Journey of Survival Description
From Booklist
Here’s a book whose subtitle employs “world’s greatest” accurately, speaking of Ernest Shackleton’s astonishing 1916 Antarctic rescue. Author-adventurer Jarvis has re-created in nearly every detail that harrowing trip (“in a replica James Caird using traditional navigation” and “period gear and equipment”) across the Southern Ocean from Elephant Island to South Georgia and up and down its mountainous terrain. Though others have tried this and failed, Jarvis, with help and patronage from Shackleton’s granddaughter Alexandra and a team of brave, seaworthy men, made it, and the expedition’s nuts and bolts (financial, emotional, and literal) are detailed here, accompanied by fascinating quotes from the accounts of members of Shackleton’s original journey. Nearly every page of this oversize book features a map, or an illustration, or a period or contemporary photo, from close-ups of gnarled hands stitching the replica sails and the boat-making process to the seagoing men sleeping, just barely, under reindeer-skin blankets. The PBS documentary tie-in will flesh out this thrilling tale, but the book itself is a treasure-trove of minutiae and derring-do for both explorers and those who will simply gaze in wonderment. --Eloise Kinney
Review
“Mr. Jarvis’s tribute to Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition has had a danger and heroism that are worthy of the original.” (The Guardian)
“This is a story of triumph! Tim Jarvis and his companions have successfully recreated my grandfather’s 1916 voyage over the stormiest seas in the world. I feel it was a thoroughly Shackletonian expedition.” (ALEXANDRA SHACKLETON, Granddaughter of Ernest Shackleton)
“A daring re-enactment. ... All the plaudits to him and his team are thoroughly deserved.” (Telegraph)
“An extraordinary expedition” (The Daily Mirror)
“Polar explorer Jarvis takes on the re-creation of one of the most difficult treks imaginable. … The story of their journey is bone-chilling and breathtakingly frightening. … a most remarkable feat. A well-written, compelling read.” (Kirkus)
“Thrilling. ... A treasure-trove of minutiae and derring-do for both explorers and those who will simply gaze in wonderment.” (Booklist)
See all Editorial Reviews
- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: William Morrow (January 7, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0062282735
- ISBN-13: 978-0062282736
- Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.8 x 1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to talk to Sir Ernest Shackleton about the Endurance expedition? Meet Tim Jarvis.
Tim didn’t recreated the entire Endurance expedition. Just the hardest parts. To be specific, the boat journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia and the crossing of South Georgia. Until Tim and his worthy team accomplished the “double” in early 2013, only Shackleton accompanied by Frank Worsley and Tom Crean had managed to pull off this amazing feat.
Here’s the back story. About 2007, Alexandra Shackleton approached Tim Jarvis about recreating her grandfather’s “double.” Since Shackleton’s 1916 accomplishment, many people had crossed South Georgia but only a few attempts had been made at recreating his almost-impossible boat journey.
In 1997, an Irish team were forced to scuttle their boat after capsizing three times. In 2000, a German crew had to be towed part of the way. Trevor Potts’ valiant attempt in 1993-94 with a three-man crew came closest to success. Ironically where, Shackleton refused to take the risk of being pushed past South Georgia and opted to land on the uninhabited Antarctic-facing shore, Potts was driven by the raging seas to the supposedly friendlier eastern shore. Potts and his team attempted a reverse crossing of the island - from Stromness to King Haakon Bay but were forestalled by the treacherous terrain and a shortage of food.
I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Tim tell the story of the Shackleton Epic a number of times. As Tim’s beautifully titled book makes clear his challenges were almost as great as Sir Ernest’s. This is a story that never gets old. It’s a story of man pushed to the limits. It’s a story of remarkable teamwork. It’s a story of doing the impossible.
Source: Free copy from William Morrow in exchange for a review.
Summary:
Tim Jarvis, an experienced explorer, was asked by the granddaughter of Sir Ernest Shackleton, to recreate Shackleton's 1916 famous trek. Shackleton and his crew had embarked on a course to reach the South Pole in 1914; instead, their ship became stranded in ice. In 1916 Shackleton and a select few men, made the journey across the rough Southern Ocean to the island of South Georgia. Their next goal was to climb over the interior mountains to a remote fishing village in order to rescue the men left behind on the ship.
Tim Jarvis, put together a crew and a plan to follow the same route Shackleton had done. They would use original equipment from Shackleton's era, including a replica built boat like the one used by Shackleton in order to reach South Georgia.
The book Chasing Shackleton, begins with the initial planning phase of the expedition. Jarvis chose men based on: experience, health, knowledge, abilities, and fortitude. The gathering of gear and the building of the replica boat was the next step. A Discovery channel team would follow Jarvis's group and film the expedition.
My Thoughts:
I have not watched the PBS special on the recreation, but my husband has and found it very interesting.
I enjoyed reading this book for several reasons:
1. During the crossing of the Southern Ocean (in the small replica boat) it was a "white knuckle" reading adventure.
2. I loved reading about Shackleton's story, it was placed first in the book; then Jarvis began telling his story of the planning of the expedition and the adventure itself.
3. I appreciate the realness of the teams experience.
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