An expedition born under the best omens
Enhanced by his participation in the expedition to Antarctica of the ship "Belgica" in which he had participated a few years earlier, Roald Amundsen caresses the senseless project of sailing through the Northwest Passage passes from east to west (from the Atlantic to the Pacific). To do this, he armed the Gjøa, a small cod fishing sloop.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, it was a senseless and risky project, because the largest polar expedition of all time, the Franklin Expedition, had disappeared there, bodies and property, since 1846. Frijtdof Nansen, the famous Norwegian polar explorer and mentor of Roald Amundsen, made his connections and some of his funds available to him to undertake his adventure on condition that he added the research of the Magnetic North Pole...
A crew reduced to six people, but versatile
- The second-in-command, Godfred Hansen, served as a meteorologist, navigator, astronomer, geologist and surgeon, a highly educated man who was fond of reading and who was happy to tell his story at the vigil.
- Helmsman Helmer Hanssen, a polar ship pilot, was experienced in ice navigation and made a very good accordion player.
- Anton Lund, a whaler and hunter, had more than 25 polar whaling campaigns to his credit.
- Peter Rivstedt, sergeant in the Norwegian ski infantry, blacksmith, dog breeder, builder and expert in sled driving.
- Gustav Juel Wiik, an artillery non-commissioned officer, the youngest member of the team, a specialist in magnetic instruments and readings, was a blaster, never in the midst of a funny story. He died of illness in 1905 and was the only one not to return to Norway.
- Adolf Henrik Lindstrøm, the cook, had studied on board dozens of ships, but also in the most exclusive kitchens in Europe. A master cock capable of culinary prodigies with the means on board, coupled with an excellent character, always carried on the joke.
A quick start
On June 16, 1903, at midnight, the Gjøa sailed from Oslo with complete discretion, Amundsen's creditors seeking to immobilize the ship to be paid for debts incurred for the shipment...
First stop in Greenland to load 20 dogs as well as supplies and kerosene, then travel east via Beechey Island and the Strait of Franklin (named after Sir Franklin).
The ship's canoe often precedes them to probe depths of sometimes less than 1.50 m.
Heading for the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage, and after a machine fire, a storm and several strandings, this is the first voluntary wintering, in order to carry out a year-long magnetic measurement campaign.
Amundsen established its base in a small, well-protected cove in the southeast of King William Island, Gjøa Haven. He will stay there for two years...
Exchanges with Inuit
It was in Gjøa Haven that frequent contact with the Inuit communities in the area led them to trade heavy Western woollen clothing for much more effective Aboriginal fur clothing.
In addition to hunting and fishing, bartering with the Inuit allowed them to significantly improve the standard of the shoreline. The small number of crew members kept everyone busy, did not force anyone to do unnecessary chores and maintained a high level of morale, supported by the varied and delicious menus prepared by the cook Lindstrøm. This was the concept of Amundsen's expedition, a small, close-knit, acclimatised, competent and versatile team.
Through the Northwest Passage
The Gjøa set sail again in the summer of 1905 to reach Cape Colbourne on 17 August of the same year, the highest point being reached by ships from the Bering Strait. The Northwest Passage has been crossed. Continuing on its western route, the ice stopped them on Herschel Island on September 2, 1905, announcing a new wintering season.
1600 km for a telegram to be sent
Eager to announce the news to the world, Amundsen and Rivstedt undertook a "health walk" in the middle of winter, in temperatures of -50°C, by dogteam to the nearest Alaskan telegraph station... Still located 1600 km round trip from Herschel Island..
Finally, in mid-August 1906, Amundsen set off again for Nome, Alaska, which he reached on the 31st, greeted as a hero by a population euphoric about the gold discoveries in the area.
