Following Sir Franklin, over a half-century would pass before an innovative explorer finally conquered the Northwest Passage. Unsupported by naval might or government funding, a 29-year old Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, set out with improbably slim resources: just six men and a tiny shallow vessel, the Gjøa, which he figured could slip through channels that endangered larger ships. Caught by the winter ice. Amundsen did what the earlier Franklin´s crew had been unable or unwilling to do; he turned to the native Inuit to learn their ancient skills of Arctic survival. The secrets they taught him – seal hunting, building igloos, and handling dog teams – not only ensured the success of his voyage, but paved the way for his conquest of the South Pole in 192. NOVA retraces Amundsen´s triumphant, epic voyage, taking viewers to the Canadian Arctic where his name is still legendary among the native people.
