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Commander Robert E. Peary on the Roosevelt |
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| Much of the hard labor
required the skill of Eskimo dog team drivers. Here
are the names of some of them who took part—Ahwahtingwah, Arco, Karo, Keshingwah, Koolootingwah,
Kudlooktoo, Kyutah, Panikpah, Pooadloonah and
Wesharkoopsi. Plus Ootah, Ooqueah, Egingwah and Seeglo
who went all the way to the Pole. |
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The teams worked according
to Peary's plan. The hardest work was for the team
in front who had to make the trail. Often they used small pick axes called "ice axes" to make their way through rough
ice, or chop footholds up over pressure ridges. Many sledges were damaged by the sharp ice and had to be repaired.
Some they replaced and a few were burned for fuel. In fact, at
one camp the Eskimos burned up a broken sledge to cook one of the dogs
that died—sort of an Eskimo Arctic BBQ. Peary noted in his diary that
the natives had "been eating dog all day."
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