Marooned at the end of the world

By Dugald McConnell, CNN

Updated 1408 GMT (2208 HKT) July 14, 2013

During a 1913 expedition to explore the region north of Alaska and Canada, 31 people aboard the Canadian sponsored ship Karluk became trapped in ice, beginning a yearlong ordeal. Click through the images for photos from the historic adventure.
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
Marooned: A deadly Arctic expedition – During a 1913 expedition to explore the region north of Alaska and Canada, 31 people aboard the Canadian sponsored ship Karluk became trapped in ice, beginning a yearlong ordeal. Click through the images for photos from the historic adventure.
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In this expedition photo which was taken before shipping out, Vilhjalmur Stefansson (front row, third from the left) was joined by his secretary Burt McConnell, (middle row, second from left) and the ship's captain, Robert Bartlett (front row, second from left).
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
The explorers – In this expedition photo which was taken before shipping out, Vilhjalmur Stefansson (front row, third from the left) was joined by his secretary Burt McConnell, (middle row, second from left) and the ship's captain, Robert Bartlett (front row, second from left).
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Stefansson, 33, was ambitious, optimistic and quick to court fame. He had made a name for himself demonstrating that even in the most barren emptiness, a determined and resourceful explorer could live off the frozen land.
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
The leader: Vilhjalmur Stefansson – Stefansson, 33, was ambitious, optimistic and quick to court fame. He had made a name for himself demonstrating that even in the most barren emptiness, a determined and resourceful explorer could live off the frozen land.
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McConnell -- seen here fixing a meal on a sled -- was husky, energetic and just 22 when he set out with the expedition. The mission was to conquer the last unexplored part of the north.
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
Burt McConnell – McConnell -- seen here fixing a meal on a sled -- was husky, energetic and just 22 when he set out with the expedition. The mission was to conquer the last unexplored part of the north.
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The Karluk was an aging 129-foot whaling ship bought by the Canadian government, seen here Esquimalt Harbor. When the expedition weighed anchor in Nome, Alaska, McConnell wrote to his sweetheart how thrilling it was to embark on the trip.
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
The Karluk – The Karluk was an aging 129-foot whaling ship bought by the Canadian government, seen here Esquimalt Harbor. When the expedition weighed anchor in Nome, Alaska, McConnell wrote to his sweetheart how thrilling it was to embark on the trip.
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Soon after leaving port in Alaska, the ship encountered the worst summer ice in memory. Trapped, the Karluk was unable to turn back or move forward. Although they were only a few miles from land, they were hundreds of miles from civilization and winter was approaching.
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
Stuck – Soon after leaving port in Alaska, the ship encountered the worst summer ice in memory. Trapped, the Karluk was unable to turn back or move forward. Although they were only a few miles from land, they were hundreds of miles from civilization and winter was approaching.
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While stuck on the ship, the men built sleds and boats like this Eskimo-style umiak, to use in case they lost their ship and then had to cross the ice or water. Stefansson took some of the expedition's best dogs and five men, including McConnell, and set out for shore to hunt for meat. The ship soon drifted away, cutting off Stefansson and McConnell's group from the Karluk.
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
Preparing for the worst – While stuck on the ship, the men built sleds and boats like this Eskimo-style umiak, to use in case they lost their ship and then had to cross the ice or water. Stefansson took some of the expedition's best dogs and five men, including McConnell, and set out for shore to hunt for meat. The ship soon drifted away, cutting off Stefansson and McConnell's group from the Karluk.
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Trapped in drifting ice, the remaining men knew they were moving farther and farther from land, and the days were getting shorter and shorter. It was clear that if the ice did not release them soon, they would be stuck throughout the winter and carried even farther away from civilization.
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
Trapped and drifting – Trapped in drifting ice, the remaining men knew they were moving farther and farther from land, and the days were getting shorter and shorter. It was clear that if the ice did not release them soon, they would be stuck throughout the winter and carried even farther away from civilization.
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After drifting for five months, the ship sank under the ice one night, forcing everyone to move themselves and their gear onto the ice. Desperate to save his men, Bartlett made a risky decision. He and a crewman traveled by sled across ice riddled with daunting ridges and treacherous gaps to find help in Siberia, hundreds of miles away.
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
Ship sinks, starvation looms – After drifting for five months, the ship sank under the ice one night, forcing everyone to move themselves and their gear onto the ice. Desperate to save his men, Bartlett made a risky decision. He and a crewman traveled by sled across ice riddled with daunting ridges and treacherous gaps to find help in Siberia, hundreds of miles away.
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More than a year after the ship became trapped, Bartlett made it back to Alaska and organized several failed attempts to rescue the 12 men still clinging to life on the ice. Finally, the schooner King and Winge reached the stranded explorers. Overall, 11 of the original 31 Karluk expedition members had died.<br />
Photos: Gallery: Deadly Arctic expedition
Rescue – More than a year after the ship became trapped, Bartlett made it back to Alaska and organized several failed attempts to rescue the 12 men still clinging to life on the ice. Finally, the schooner King and Winge reached the stranded explorers. Overall, 11 of the original 31 Karluk expedition members had died.
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Story highlights

  • Karluk departs Alaska 100 years ago on one of the most ambitious missions of its kind
  • Ship with 31 crew members ends up trapped in ice; ship sinks, setting off yearlong ordeal
  • In a controversial move, the expedition leader chooses to leave the ship
  • Remaining crew sets across ice, despite extreme cold and starvation
Capt. Robert Bartlett was awakened by a sharp crack, like a gunshot. His ship was sinking.
"I heard a splitting, crashing sound," he later wrote. "The ship was trembling and quivering."
"We could hear water rushing into the hold, and by lantern light could see it pouring in at different places."
Bartlett's ship, the Karluk, had been frozen in the sea ice for five months, unable to budge -- until now.
His men