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Survival on a Sea of Ice

Ernest Shackleton’s escape from Antarctica is one of history’s greatest tales of adventure.

December 5, 2022
By Rebecca Katzman, with reporting by Hailee Romain

Frank Hurley/Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge/Getty Images

The crew tries to free the Endurance from the ice in February 1915. 

As You Read, Think About: What challenges did Shackleton and his crew face?

Royal Geographical Society via Getty Images

Ernest Shackleton

For nine long months, Ernest Shackleton and the 27 members of his crew had faced disaster. Their ship, the Endurance, had been stuck in Antarctica’s frozen Weddell Sea since January 1915. As the sea ice tightened its grip, the Endurance creaked and groaned under the pressure.

The force became too much. Boards snapped and water rushed in. On October 27, the men had no choice but to abandon ship. A few weeks later, they watched as the Endurance slipped under the surface. With it went Shackleton’s dream of leading the first expedition to cross Antarctica.

What followed was a race against time to escape from the world’s coldest place. The crew’s struggle has become a legendary tale of survival. 

Earlier this year, that story got a new chapter. In March, researchers found the wreckage of the Endurance—nearly 2 miles below the ocean’s surface.

For nine long months, Ernest Shackleton and the 27 members of his crew had faced disaster. Their ship was called the Endurance. It had been stuck in Antarctica’s frozen Weddell Sea since January 1915. As the sea ice tightened its grip, the Endurance creaked and groaned under the pressure.

The force became too much. Boards snapped and water rushed in. On October 27, the men had no choice but to abandon ship. A few weeks later, they watched as the Endurance sank. With it went Shackleton’s dream. He wanted to lead the first expedition to cross Antarctica.

What followed was a race against time. The crew had to escape from the world’s coldest place. Their struggle has become a legendary tale of survival. 

Earlier this year, that story got a new chapter. In March, researchers found the wreckage of the Endurance. It was nearly 2 miles below the ocean’s surface.

A Dangerous Journey

Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth. For most of human history, it was unexplored. Antarctica is surrounded by thick sea ice. Winter temperatures dip below –70 degrees Fahrenheit. But in the early 1900s, adventurers repeatedly tried to explore the frozen continent. 

Shackleton was one of them. By 1910, he had already taken part in two Antarctic expeditions. His third began when the Endurance left England in August 1914. 

As the ship neared Antarctica, the trip became more difficult for Shackleton and his crew. They slowly sailed through cracks in the frozen Weddell Sea. Eventually, the Endurance could no longer move. As one crew member later put it, the ship was “frozen, like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar.”

The crew was forced to leave the ship. They took food, equipment, and three small lifeboats with them and set up camp on the sea ice. The goal of the expedition had changed—from exploration to survival. 

Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth. For most of human history, it was unexplored. Antarctica is surrounded by thick sea ice. Winter temperatures dip below -70 degrees Fahrenheit. But in the early 1900s, adventurers repeatedly tried to explore the frozen continent. 

Shackleton was one of them. By 1910, he had already taken part in two Antarctic expeditions. His third began when the Endurance left England in August 1914. 

As the ship neared Antarctica, the trip became more difficult for Shackleton and his crew. They slowly sailed through cracks in the frozen Weddell Sea. Eventually, the Endurance could no longer move. As one crew member later put it, the ship was “frozen, like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar.”

The crew was forced to leave the ship. They took food and equipment. They also brought three small lifeboats with them. Then they set up camp on the sea ice. The goal of the expedition had changed—from exploration to survival. 

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The men pull a lifeboat across the frozen sea.

Seeking Safety

Months later, in April 1916, the ice under their camp began to split. Shackleton ordered his crew into the lifeboats. They battled waves for days before arriving on uninhabited Elephant Island. 

Worried that his crew wouldn’t survive another winter, Shackleton was determined to find a ship they could use to escape. He and five other men set out for South Georgia Island—more than 800 miles away.

They reached the island 16 days later. But ice, bad weather, and other delays kept them from returning quickly. Finally, on August 30, 1916, Shackleton arrived back at Elephant Island with a boat big enough to rescue the rest of his men. Incredibly, they had all survived!

Months later, in April 1916, the ice under their camp began to split. Shackleton ordered his crew into the lifeboats. They battled waves for days. Then they arrived on uninhabited Elephant Island. 

Shackleton was worried that his crew wouldn’t survive another winter. He was determined to find a ship they could use to escape. He and five other men set out for South Georgia Island. It was more than 800 miles away.

They reached the island 16 days later. But ice, bad weather, and other delays kept them from returning quickly. Finally, on August 30, 1916, Shackleton arrived back at Elephant Island. He brought a boat big enough to rescue the rest of his men. Incredibly, they had all survived!

Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust

A submarine took this photo of the Endurance earlier this year. 

Finding the Endurance

Shackleton died in 1922, just as he was setting out on his fourth Antarctic trip. A hundred years later, this past March, two small robotic submarines located his long-lost ship on the seafloor. John Shears led the expedition, known as Endurance22. He was amazed by the images that showed the 107-year-old wreckage in near-perfect condition.

“That was an incredible moment,” Shears recalls. 

Like the ship itself, the spirit of Ernest Shackleton lives on. 

“He was an amazing man to be able to lead people through that sort of hardship,” Shears says.

Shackleton died in 1922. At the time, he was setting out on his fourth Antarctic trip. A hundred years have passed since then. And this past March, two small robotic submarines located his long-lost ship on the seafloor. John Shears led the expedition. It was known as Endurance22. He was amazed by the images of the Endurance. They showed the 107-year-old wreckage in near-perfect condition.

“That was an incredible moment,” Shears recalls. 

Like the ship itself, the spirit of Ernest Shackleton lives on. 

“He was an amazing man to be able to lead people through that sort of hardship,” Shears says.

Shackleton’s Journey

Jim McMahon/Mapman®
  1. Dec. 7, 1914: The Endurance sails into sea ice.
  2. Jan. 18, 1915: The Endurance gets stuck in the ice and begins to drift.
  3. Oct. 27, 1915: The crew abandons ship.
  4. Oct. 1915–Apr. 1916: The crew camps on the drifting ice and then rows lifeboats to Elephant Island.
  5. Apr.–May 1916: Shackleton and five others sail to South Georgia Island.
  6. June 1916: A mail boat takes Shackleton to Chile to borrow a boat to rescue the others.
  7. Aug. 30, 1916: Shackleton returns to rescue the rest of the crew.

Shackleton’s Journey

Jim McMahon/Mapman®
  1. Dec. 7, 1914: The Endurance sails into sea ice.
  2. Jan. 18, 1915: The Endurance gets stuck in the ice and begins to drift.
  3. Oct. 27, 1915: The crew abandons ship.
  4. Oct. 1915–Apr. 1916: The crew camps on the drifting ice and then rows lifeboats to Elephant Island.
  5. Apr.–May 1916: Shackleton and five others sail to South Georgia Island.
  6. June 1916: A mail boat takes Shackleton to Chile to borrow a boat to rescue the others.
  7. Aug. 30, 1916: Shackleton returns to rescue the rest of the crew.

1. The article says that earlier this year, the story of Shackleton’s expedition “got a new chapter.” What does this mean?

2. Based on the article, why do you think Antarctica stayed unexplored for so long?

3. Why did Shackleton and his crew leave the Endurance before reaching land?

1. The article says that earlier this year, the story of Shackleton’s expedition “got a new chapter.” What does this mean?

2. Based on the article, why do you think Antarctica stayed unexplored for so long?

3. Why did Shackleton and his crew leave the Endurance before reaching land?

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