For those interested, there are a few well-reviewed TV programs on the Shakleton Expedition over the next few weeks, starting tomorrow night. Many of you have no doubt read one or more of the many books covering this. I was privileged to see the exhibit at National Geographic in D.C. a few years back and one cannot help but be impressed with this extraordinary tale of survival. Whatever critisisms may be made of him, the tale stands on its own from a survival perspective for the lessons learned:<br> <br>PBS<br>NOVA "Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance"<br>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton/<br>Tuesday, March 26, 2002 (8-10:00 pm)<br>Featuring breathtaking footage of Antarctic locations and interviews with descendants of Shackleton's crew, this definitive documentary tells the remarkable tale of the 1914 expedition across the Antarctic continent by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew. <br><br>A&E<br>"Shakleton"<br>http://www.aande.com/tv/shows/shackleton/index.html<br>Part 1: April 7, 8:00 - 10:00 EST<br>Part II: April 8, 9:00 - 11:00 EST<br><br>Biography: Earnest Shakleton: Looking South<br>April 8, 8:00 - 9:00 EST<br>

Thanks for the tip, Doug - it was quite a production to watch, especially all that original footage! Prol give Chris nightmares... The "rest of the story", the 10 men lost from the Aurora, was if anything even more heroic, and I was fascinated when I re-read about their story on the Nova website.<br><br>Tom

No nightmares! I made one Antarctic patrol stocked with a Public Library's rather rare tome on Polar exploration. Imagine their chagrin recieving a reply to their 4 month overdue notice postmarked Little America ! The very idea of launching a small boat in those waters and shooting the sun ( sun, what sun Chief?) inspired my own efforts at seamanship and navigation. That was a REAL classroom! The voyages of Captain Bligh and the wreck of the Essex ( inspiration for Moby Dick and also subject to an upcoming TV special) led me to Motorlifeboat duty.