74 Master Minds of Modern Science 



proposed to Shackleton that he should attempt to reach 

 the summit of Mount Erebus, the highest peak in the 

 Antarctic, which had never been climbed, and there take 

 observations of temperature and wind currents. 



Mount Erebus has loomed large in the history of Polar 

 exploration. Standing as the sentinel at the gate of the 

 Great Ice Barrier, it forms a magnificent picture, rising 

 from sea-level to a height of over 13,000 feet. It is an 

 extinct volcano, and at the top an immense depression 

 marks the site of the old crater, while beside this is an 

 active cone often wreathed in smoke or steam. The 

 ascent of such a mountain would have been difficult in 

 any part of the world ; in the Antarctic temperature and 

 weather combined to make it a formidable task. 



A climbing party was selected, consisting of the three 

 scientists, Professor David, Mawson, and Mackay, with 

 a supporting party of three other members of the expedi- 

 tion. They carried ten days' provisions. All recognized 

 the scientific value of the attempt and all were determined 

 to reach the crater. 



During the ascent the parties encountered terrible 

 blizzards, with temperatures as low as thirty degrees below 

 zero. In five days they reached the summit, and there 

 the Professor made some interesting observations, and 

 for the first time the height of the mountain was scientifi- 

 cally calculated. This had been variously estimated. 

 Sir James Clarke Ross, who named the mountain in 1841, 

 estimated its height to be 12,367 feet. Captain Scott, on 

 his first expedition in 1901, made two estimates, one 

 being 13,120 feet and the other being 12,922 feet. The 

 latter figure appeared in the Admiralty chart of the 

 region. 



Professor David's observations revealed that the rim of 

 the main crater of Erebus was 11,350 feet above sea-level, 

 and that the height of the summit was 13,355 feet. 



The party had to face severe conditions on the return 



