The Ice

Until I saw this photograph at the Scott Polar Institute in the early 1990s, it had never crossed my mind that Shackleton and his team weren't dealing with a landscape that was as flat as an ice-skating rink. This photograph gives us a glimpse into the enormity of the challenge they were dealing with.

Hurley's companion posing for the photo, looks like Leonard Hussey, his partner on night watch.

The ship looks like it's about a quarter mile away but in Antarctica distances are deceptive because the air is so clear. It's probably closer to a mile away. Despite all their experience, the Endurance crew were constantly fooled by their sense of distance.