Secrets of Polar Travel

"Secrets of Polar Travel" by Robert E. Peary is a practical guide to arctic exploration written in the early 20th century. The work focuses on the methods and equipment required for successful polar travel, drawing from Peary's extensive experience in the harsh conditions of the Arctic. With a detailed examination of the strategies implemented to conquer polar challenges, the book aims to equip both present and future explorers with invaluable knowledge they might need to survive and thrive in the frigid extremes of the polar regions. The opening portion of the book details Peary's introduction to polar travel and the foundations of his "Peary System" of exploration. He outlines the necessity of practical experience in developing effective equipment and methods, emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation and an understanding of the geographical and environmental conditions that polar explorers face. Peary also sets the stage for the book by contrasting the characteristics of the North and South Poles, explaining that while the North Pole is an ocean surrounded by land, the South Pole is a landmass surrounded by ocean, highlighting how these differences profoundly impact the approach to exploration. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Edwin Peary Sr. was an American explorer and officer in the United States Navy who made several expeditions to the Arctic in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was long credited as being the discoverer of the geographic North Pole in April 1909, having led the first expedition to have claimed this achievement, although it is now considered unlikely that he actually reached the Pole.