William Rohner’s Reviews > Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage > Status Update

Six men sailing for South Georgia and rescue:

"Their legs from the knees down were chafed and raw . . . . And all of them were afflicted with salt water boils on their wrists, ankles, and buttocks. But had someone unexpectedly come upon this bizarre scene, undoubtedly the most striking thing would have been the attitude of the men . . . relaxed, even faintly jovial—almost as if they were on an outing of some sort."

"In cold weather they were also greatly troubled with their eyes watering. The tears ran down a man's nose and formed an icicle on the end, which sooner or later had to be broken off. And no matter how carefully it was done, a little patch of skin invariably came off with it, leaving a chronically unhealed sore on the end of his nose."

Ouch!

"In cold weather they were also greatly troubled with their eyes watering. The tears ran down a man's nose and formed an icicle on the end, which sooner or later had to be broken off. And no matter how carefully it was done, a little patch of skin invariably came off with it, leaving a chronically unhealed sore on the end of his nose."

Ouch!

"The official lights-out...was at 8:30 P.M. A good many men turned in earlier, after removing their trousers and jerseys and possibly putting on a pair of dry socks. Nobody ever took off his underwear."

Gross! Living in tents on ice floes after abandoning ship near Antarctica involves giving up creature comforts to a crazy degree. These guys seem not only to bear it but enjoy it!

What a fun book to read in July!