Until a few decades ago, even parts of Gozo were probably unexplored or only known to a few locals. But nowadays, thanks to technology, man’s flip-flopped footprint can be found everywhere. And exploration has become so easy that you would almost expect to find a stairlift at the foot of the Himalayas.

We shall not cease from exploration- T. S. Eliot

But in pre-GPS days, exploration was a leap in the heart of darkness. Armed with a few tins of spam but plenty of courage, explorers battled the elements to sink a flag where no human being had ever been before.

I had never heard of Douglas Mawson until I picked up Alone on Ice by David Roberts. Overshadowed by Captain Scott’s Antarctic expeditions, Mawson’s icy adventure has long been forgotten. And yet, it shouldn’t because it is one of the greatest survival stories ever lived and told.

In 1912, having turned down Scott’s offer of a place on the Terra Nova expedition – with hindsight, an excellent decision – the young Australian geologist set off to find the magnetic South Pole. It would be a long trek during which he would battle icy seas, deep crevasses and wind speeds of up to 60mph. And, of course, no technology to help him out.

Not only that, but it was as if the universe was conspiring to stop him from reaching his destination. After a few weeks, one of his companions fell into a crevasse, together with the only tent and almost all the food. His second companion died after eating the liver of one of the huskies.

All alone Mawson was 100 miles away from his base camp and had just nine days to arrive there before his ship would depart.

It was a desperate situation but Mawson persevered – he removed any extra weight, including blank pages from his diary.

And when the soles of his feet came away, he tied them back on with bandages and kept walking. Even in these deadly conditions, his spirit remained strongly defiant and his diary entry only reads, “This is most exasperating.” You can only imagine what our Facebook status would be if we found ourselves in Mawson’s situation.

Mawson returned to Australia in 1914. Almost a century later, his story is still a heroic testament to what one man alone can achieve.

techeditor@timesofmalta.com