The White Desert

The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from 1 July 1957 to 31 December 1958. Sixty-seven countries participated in IGY projects throughout that period, and it included some massive undertakings such as launching satellites (Sputnik 1 from the USSR and Explorer 1 from the USA) and the establishment of over 40 research stations in Antarctica. At the same time the Trans-Antarctic Expedition also took place - which consisted of the first crossing of Antarctica via the Pole by Vivian Fuchs and his team.

At this time the pole had previously been reached by Amundsen, and shortly after by Scott, who perished on his return trip. The Americans established a base at the pole as part of the IGY, which played a massive part in the success of Fuchs.

The support team for Fuchs was led by Ed Hillary, fresh from his conquest of Everest. He was to establish a base for New Zealand (Scott Base), and work his way from Fuchs end point towards the Pole, establishing supply caches of food, fuel and equipment for Fuchs team. Famously, Hillary carried on to the South Pole after he completed all his tasks, and led the first team to reach the Pole overland since Robert Falcon Scott.

After being delayed by poor weather, a tough terrain and some mechanical failures, Fuchs team reached the Pole, then carried on with their expedition to reach Scott Base. While completing the journey was a factor, it was also the scientific research carried out on the way which Fuchs deemed as important, and this slowed his progress throughout the journey.

The Trans-Antarctic Expedition had sold exclusive rights to the story to The Times, which included Fuchs writing updates for their release. Noel barber, author of this book, was a foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail. Barber was charged with obtaining the story and providing alternative reporting to allow what was essentially a publicly funded expedition to be shared with the British public. This book covers the expedition, which various other books also do, but more it covers Barber's experiences in Antarctica, and how he was able to break news that The Times missed out on.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this book was how dependent on the Americans that Fuchs was - despite his insistence that he was not. A few examples - radio communications were unreliable and weather dependent to the British and New Zealand bases, and communication between Fuchs and Hillary were not possible until Hillary was almost at the Pole. The American base at the Pole (Amundsen-Scott was the name of the base) was the main communication hub, receiving and passing on information between the parties; when Geoff Pratt got carbon monoxide poisoning from cooking in his tent the Americans dropped oxygen to the expedition to save him from serious and permanent illness; they airlifted additional fuel for John Lewis, who had insufficient in his plane to complete his journey to Scott Base; at the Pole both teams were offered the hospitality of the base (although Fuchs made a show of refusal) which included hot food & comfortable beds; the overhaul of the vehicles was carried out in the base garage.

I found it interesting to read about the expedition from a different viewpoint, and to read about Barber's experiences in the New Zealand and American bases (he spent extensive time in both McMurdo and the Pole bases).

4 stars