Exploring the Arctic

BEYOND THE EDGE: The SEARch for ultima thule

The definitive introduction to arctic exploration.

Danger, controversy, and fierce conditions surround the quest for the northernmost point on earth. This is one of the few books that focus on the exploration, navigation, mapping, and controversy around the pursuit of these remote lands--some of the most unforgiving areas of our planet.

Gerald Johnson’s access to rare, firsthand accounts of expeditions, presentation of supporting maps and other visual accompaniments, well-documented history, and engaging writing style are sure to capture the imaginations of history buffs, academics, and any reader interested in man’s quest for the world beyond.

beyond the edge, Volume ii:
accounts of historic, significant, and little-known expeditions on the greenland ice cap

The journey continues.

In 1876, the Danish government began a series of expeditions to answer the question of what lay inland from Greenland’s coast, setting off more than a century of Ice Cap investigations to explore this mysterious and strategically valuable piece of land. And while the characteristics of the expeditions may have changed over time, each trip had its own significance and offered its own revelations.

The intrepid explorers leading these expeditions had different motivations: exploration, national pride, fame, or the satisfaction of setting foot on virgin soil. Many did not return alive, but those who did brought back a collection of fascinating adventure stories. The selections in this volume include just a few of these accounts, but they give the reader an insight into the men who made these remarkable journeys.

BEYOND THe edge, volume III:
HISTORIC STORIES OF POLAR NAVIGATION

The challenges of mapping the treacherous unknown.

The golden era of Polar exploration and mapping, the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, is well documented by both participants and historians. Not as well known is how these expeditions found their way across these vast uncharted regions or how they mapped the blank areas. As they traversed the featureless ice and snow, sailed the treacherous polar seas, or mapped unknown land areas, they somehow found their way and began to fill in the blank maps.

For hundreds of years celestial navigation was the science that allowed exploration of the ends of the earth—but the stars were of limited use during the twenty-four hours of daylight found during Polar expeditions. Men had to rely on the sun to tell them where they were or what direction they should take. By measuring the sun’s elevation and recording the time, it was possible to determine their latitude and longitude.

The ability to successfully navigate an expedition often determined whether or not it would be successful, and more importantly, whether men would live or die. How this was achieved is a lesser known aspect of Polar exploration, and is what’s revealed in this new volume of Beyond the Edge.

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