Image of a crew cutting through ice for their ship to pass through

1915: The crew tries to free the Endurance from the sea ice. 

Nick Birtwistle/Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (background); Frank Hurley/Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge/Getty Images

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Survival on a Sea of Ice

Ernest Shackleton’s escape from Antarctica is one of history’s greatest tales of adventure.

December 19, 2022
By Rebecca Katzman, with reporting by Hailee Romain
The Search for a Sunken Ship
Watch a video to learn about the search for the wreckage of the Endurance.

As You Read, Think About: What challenges did Shackleton and his crew face?

Royal Geographical Society via Getty Images

Ernest Shackleton

For nine months, Ernest Shackleton and the 27 members of his crew had faced disaster in Antarctica. Their ship, the Endurance, had been stuck in the frozen Weddell Sea since January 1915.

Finally, the force of the ice became too much. Boards snapped and water rushed in. On October 27, the men had to abandon ship. A few weeks later, they watched as the Endurance sank. With the ship went Shackleton’s dream of leading the first expedition to cross Antarctica.

The crew raced against time to escape from the world’s coldest place. Their struggle became a legendary tale of survival. 

Earlier this year, that story got a new chapter. In March, researchers found the wreckage of the Endurance—nearly 2 miles below the ocean’s surface.

For nine months, Ernest Shackleton and the 27 members of his crew had faced disaster in Antarctica. Their ship was called the Endurance. It had been stuck in the frozen Weddell Sea since January 1915.

Finally, the force of the ice became too much. Boards snapped. Water rushed in. On October 27, the men had to abandon ship. A few weeks later, they watched as the Endurance sank. With the ship went Shackleton’s dream. He wanted to lead the first expedition to cross Antarctica.

The crew raced against time. They had to escape from the world’s coldest place. Their struggle became a legendary tale of survival. 

Earlier this year, that story got a new chapter. In March, researchers found the wreckage of the Endurance. It was nearly 2 miles below the ocean’s surface.

A Dangerous Journey

Antarctica, the southernmost continent on Earth, is surrounded by thick sea ice. Temperatures there can dip below –70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

By 1910, Shackleton had already been on two Antarctic expeditions. His third voyage began when the Endurance departed from England in August 1914. 

As the crew got closer to Antarctica, the trip became more difficult. The Endurance slowly sailed through cracks in the frozen sea until it could no longer move. As one crew member put it, the ship was “frozen, like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar.”

When the crew was finally forced to leave the ship, they took food, equipment, and three lifeboats with them. They set up camp on the sea ice. The goal of the trip had changed—from exploration to survival. 

Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth. It is surrounded by thick sea ice. Temperatures there can dip below -70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

By 1910, Shackleton had already been on two Antarctic expeditions. His third voyage began when the Endurance departed from England in August 1914. 

As the crew got closer to Antarctica, the trip became more difficult. The Endurance slowly sailed through cracks in the frozen sea. It sailed until it could no longer move. One crew member later described the frozen ship. He said it was “frozen, like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar.”

When the crew was finally forced to leave the ship, they took food and equipment. They also brought three lifeboats with them. They set up camp on the sea ice. The goal of the trip had changed—from exploration to survival. 

Seeking Safety

Months later, in April 1916, the ice under their camp began to split. Shackleton ordered his crew into the lifeboats. They battled waves for days before arriving on uninhabited Elephant Island. 

Shackleton worried that his crew wouldn’t survive another winter. He was determined to find a ship they could use to escape. So he and five men set out for South Georgia Island—more than 800 miles away.

Shackleton made it to the island 16 days later. But ice, bad weather, and other delays kept him from returning quickly. Finally, on August 30, 1916, Shackleton arrived back at Elephant Island with a boat big enough to rescue the rest of his crew. Amazingly, all of the men had survived!

Months later, in April 1916, the ice under their camp began to split. Shackleton ordered his crew into the lifeboats. They battled waves for days. Then they arrived on uninhabited Elephant Island. 

Shackleton worried that his crew wouldn’t survive another winter. He was determined to find a ship they could use to escape. So he and five men set out for South Georgia Island. It was more than 800 miles away.

Shackleton made it to the island 16 days later. But ice, bad weather, and other delays kept him from returning quickly. Finally, on August 30, 1916, Shackleton arrived back at Elephant Island. He had a boat big enough to rescue the rest of his crew. Amazingly, all the men had survived!

© Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust

2022: A submarine took this photo of the Endurance in March. 

Finding the Endurance

Shackleton died in 1922. A hundred years later, this past March, two robotic submarines located his long-lost ship on the seafloor. John Shears led the expedition, known as Endurance22. He was amazed by the images that showed the wreckage in near-perfect condition. Like the ship itself, the spirit of Shackleton lives on. 

“He was an amazing man to be able to lead people through that sort of hardship,” Shears says.

Shackleton died in 1922. A hundred years later, this past March, two robotic submarines located his long-lost ship on the seafloor. John Shears led the expedition, known as Endurance22. He was amazed by the images he saw. They showed the wreckage in near-perfect condition. Like the ship itself, the spirit of Shackleton lives on. 

“He was an amazing man to be able to lead people through that sort of hardship,” Shears says.

Shackleton's Journey

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

1. December 7, 1914: The Endurance sails into sea ice.

2. January 18, 1915: The Endurance gets stuck in the ice and begins to drift.

3. October 27, 1915: The crew abandons the ship.

4. October 1915–April 1916: The crew camps on the drifting ice and then rows lifeboats to Elephant Island.

5. April–May 1916: Shackleton and five others sail to South Georgia Island.

6. June 1916: A mail boat takes Shackleton to Chile to borrow a boat to rescue the others.

7. August 30, 1916: Shackleton returns to rescue the rest of the crew.

Shackleton's Journey

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

1. December 7, 1914: The Endurance sails into sea ice.

2. January 18, 1915: The Endurance gets stuck in the ice and begins to drift.

3. October 27, 1915: The crew abandons the ship.

4. October 1915–April 1916: The crew camps on the drifting ice and then rows lifeboats to Elephant Island.

5. April–May 1916: Shackleton and five others sail to South Georgia Island.

6. June 1916: A mail boat takes Shackleton to Chile to borrow a boat to rescue the others.

7. August 30, 1916: Shackleton returns to rescue the rest of the crew.

  1. The article says that earlier this year, the story of Shackleton’s expedition “got a new chapter.” What does this mean?
  2. Why did Shackleton and his crew leave the Endurance before reaching land?
  3. Why does the author write that “the goal of the trip had changed”? 
  1. The article says that earlier this year, the story of Shackleton’s expedition “got a new chapter.” What does this mean?
  2. Why did Shackleton and his crew leave the Endurance before reaching land?
  3. Why does the author write that “the goal of the trip had changed”? 
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