Both expedition leaders had long been preparing for their race to the South Pole. Norwegian Roald Amundsen had spent much time in the far north and he planned to rely on sled dogs and skis. But Scott didn’t want to rely on sled dogs and special equipment, though he did bring dogs to Antarctica, as well as 19 ponies and three gasoline-powered sledges, or sturdy sleds. His plan was for his team to “man-haul,” or carry, their supplies along the final portion of the route.

The two leaders even had different ideas about diet. Scott’s men would rely on canned meat. Amundsen’s men would eat plenty of fresh seal meat. (Fresh meat is a better source of Vitamin C, which prevents scurvy, a painful and sometimes deadly disease.)

After making long sea voyages from Europe, Scott and Amundsen set up base camps on opposite edges of the Ross Ice Shelf. Amundsen left base camp on October 20, 1911, with a party of four. Scott, accompanied by nine men, set off from his camp 11 days later. Four of his teammates had already gone ahead on the motorized sledges.

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