In a memorandum of 1908, Scott presented his view that man-hauling to the South Pole was impossible and that motor traction was needed.RF Scott (1908) The Sledging Problem in the Antarctic, Men versus Motors Snow vehicles did not yet exist however and so his engineer Reginald Skelton developed the idea of a caterpillar track for snow surfaces.Roland Huntford (2003) Scott and Amundsen. Their Race to the South Pole. The Last Place on Earth. Abacus, London, p. 224. In the middle of 1909, Scott realised that motors were unlikely to get him all the way to the Pole and decided additionally to take horses (based on Shackleton's near success in attaining the Pole, using ponies), dogs and skis, after consultation with Nansen during trials of the motors in Norway in March 1910.Roland Huntford (2003) Scott and Amundsen. Their Race to the South Pole. The Last Place on Earth. Abacus, London, p. 262. Man-hauling would still be needed on the Polar Plateau, on the assumption that motors and animals could not ascend the crevassed Beardmore Glacier.
In a memorandum of 1908, Scott presented his view that man-hauling to the South Pole was impossible and that motor traction was needed.RF Scott (1908) The Sledging Problem in the Antarctic, Men ver,sus Motors Snow vehicles did not yet exist however and so his engineer Reginald Skelton developed the idea of a caterpillar track for snow surfaces.Roland Huntford (2003) Scott and Amundsen. Their Race to the S:outh Pole. The Last Place on Earth. Abacus, London, p. 224. In the middle of 1909, Scott realised that motors were unlikely to get him all the way to the Pole and decided additionally to take horses (based on Shackleton's near success in attaining the Pole, using ponies), dogs and skis, after consultation with Nansen during trials of the motors in Norway in March 1910.Roland Huntford (2003) Scott and Amundsen. Their Race to the South Pole. The Last Place on Earth. Abacus, London, p. 262. Man-hauling would still be needed on the Polar Plateau, on the assumption that motors and animals could not ascend the crevassed Beardmore Glacier.