Amazing 19th Century Ice Ejection During Northwest Passage Sail

In summary, the British Navy tried to sail ships through the Northwest Passage but were often stuck in pack ice. They were able to survive by stockpiling coal and by being well prepared. Shackleton distinguished himself by losing his ship but nevertheless preserving all of his men.
  • #1
Hornbein
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In the 19th century the British Navy tried to sail ships through the Northwest Passage. The main obstacle was that the wind would drive pack ice against the northern shore of Canada. No ship could withstand a large berg.

The ships usually got stuck in the ice for years, leaving plenty of time for exploration. Once they found a chunk of ice eight feet tall and forty feet in circumference, five hundred feet from the shore. A buildup of ice pressure must have caused it to splinter off and fly all that distance.
 
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  • #2
So the ships were stuck in ice for years? Were there any survivors in that brutal cold?
 
  • #3
osilmag said:
So the ships were stuck in ice for years? Were there any survivors in that brutal cold?
I highly recommend the book "Endurance" about Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition. An amazing real story, well written.
 
  • #4
osilmag said:
So the ships were stuck in ice for years? Were there any survivors in that brutal cold?
The were well prepared for that with plenty of coal. You can carry a lot in a ship, even in those days. There was trouble with condensation dripping everywhere, but all and all it was OK as long as you didn't have to hike out.

Shackleton distinguished himself by losing his ship but nevertheless preserving all of his men, even though they could not hike out of ocean-bound Antarctica. They made a desperate voyage to a whaling station in small boats through the world's roughest ocean. On the way they encountered a rogue wave. The boats had been covered with wood so they survived, but they say Shackleton was never the same after that.

This record for huge wave survival was smashed in an Alaskan fjord when a yacht survived a five hundred foot wave caused by a massive landslide.
 
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  • #5
Hornbein said:
The ships usually got stuck in the ice for years, leaving plenty of time for exploration.
But it did not go well for all searches for the Northwest Passage. In 1845 two British ships set sail the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror to find the Northwest Passage. They were led by John Franklin an experienced explorer of the Arctic. They were never seen again. They become trapped in ice near King William Island just north of the Arctic Circle. They attempted to walk south. A search initiated in 1850 found evidence of this attempt and a few graves but not of Franklin. Some Inuits apparently know of this attempt and gave the approximate location of the ships that had sunk. These were recently discovered.

The reason for the failure of the men to survive is believed to have several causes including botulism, lead poisoning from poorly made food tins as well as pneumonia and tuberculosis. In one of the search explorations in 1854, Inuit hunters told of cannibalism. Cannibalism was verified recently from blade cuts on bones.

There was a TV documentary on this some time ago (2006?). I see that there are now quite a few videos currently available..
 
  • #6
The NW passage was not successfully navigated until Roald Amundsen's 1903-05 voyage. He stayed for two winters at what is today Gjoa Haven and learned the arctic survival skills from the Inuit that later enabled him to reach the South Pole
 
  • #7
Hornbein said:
On the way they encountered a rogue wave. The boats had been covered with wood so they survived, but they say Shackleton was never the same after that.
Who says that?

Hornbein said:
This record for huge wave survival was smashed in an Alaskan fjord when a yacht survived a five hundred foot wave caused by a massive landslide.
I assume you are talking about the 1958 Lituya Bay megatsunami. There was damage to trees over 1700 feet in the narrow inlet where it started but the wave rapidly diminished in height as the bay widened and by the time it reached the three fishing boats (not yachts; one of the three survived) anchored near the mouth of the bay it was much less than 500 feet (eywitness accounts imply between 50-150 feet).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lituya_Bay is a good start point for information.
 
  • #8
Hornbein said:
In the 19th century the British Navy tried to sail ships through the Northwest Passage. The main obstacle was that the wind would drive pack ice against the northern shore of Canada. No ship could withstand a large berg.

The ships usually got stuck in the ice for years, leaving plenty of time for exploration. Once they found a chunk of ice eight feet tall and forty feet in circumference, five hundred feet from the shore. A buildup of ice pressure must have caused it to splinter off and fly all that distance.
I reread the book and discovered I was mistaken. The distance was five hundred yards.
 

FAQ: Amazing 19th Century Ice Ejection During Northwest Passage Sail

What is the Northwest Passage?

The Northwest Passage is a sea route located in the Arctic that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It runs through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and has historically been sought after for its potential to shorten maritime trade routes.

What does "ice ejection" refer to in the context of sailing through the Northwest Passage?

Ice ejection refers to the phenomenon where ice is displaced or expelled from the path of a ship as it navigates through icy waters. This can occur due to the ship's hull breaking through the ice, creating a wake that pushes ice away, or through the use of icebreakers that intentionally clear a path.

Why was the 19th century significant for exploration of the Northwest Passage?

The 19th century was significant for the exploration of the Northwest Passage due to increased interest in Arctic exploration, driven by economic motivations, scientific curiosity, and national pride. Expeditions during this time aimed to find a navigable route that could facilitate trade and enhance knowledge of the Arctic region.

What challenges did sailors face when navigating the Northwest Passage in the 19th century?

Sailors in the 19th century faced numerous challenges, including harsh weather conditions, unpredictable ice patterns, limited navigational technology, and the dangers of becoming trapped in ice. These factors made successful navigation extremely difficult and often resulted in shipwrecks or loss of life.

What advancements in technology helped with ice navigation during the 19th century?

Advancements in ship design, such as the construction of ice-strengthened hulls and the development of steam-powered icebreakers, greatly improved navigation through icy waters. Additionally, better maps and navigational tools, along with increased knowledge of ice behavior, helped sailors plan their routes more effectively.

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