Shadows on the Wasteland: Crossing Antarctica with Ranulph Fiennes

Stroud, physician and nutritionist, was no stranger to polar travel or to Ranulph Fiennes; they previously tried unsuccessfully to reach the North Pole from Siberia. When Fiennes launched plans for an unsupported Antarctic crossing, he asked Stroud to join him. Flying from Punta Arenas, Chile, they began their epic journey in November 1992. Stroud gives a riveting account of their ordeal. Each man pulled a sleigh that weighed nearly 500 pounds and carried skis and wind sails. Personality clashes that developed in daytime evaporated at night. One bone of contention was the pace--Fiennes liked his ``polar plod,'' while Stroud wanted to move faster. They had planned to cross the floating Ross Ice Shelf to open water, having crossed the continent in 90 days--the first such crossing without the help of animals, machines or other humans. But by Day 95 they were too weak to continue, frostbitten and near starvation. In retrospect, writes Stroud, he would like to repeat the journey and finish what was left undone. A fine story of derring-do. Illustrations. (June)