Knowledge is Power

Roald Amundsen, in Alaska about 1925

On PBS this week, Nova aired Arctic Passage : Ice Survivors about about Roald Amundsen's successful expedition through the Northwest Passage in about 1905.

He made it chiefly because he studied before he left--He read everything he could get his hands on about previous expeditions, including the failed Franklin expedition. He knew what worked, and what failed ... and he made adjustments, accordingly :

* He bought a smaller ship to navigate the shallow and narrow passageways.
* He altered his route to avoid ice flows
* He learned from the Inuit how to survive in that Arctic desert.
* He learned fur was warmer than wool
* He learned snow shelters ("igloos") were cozy and warm inside, despite frigid temps outside
* That sledge runners need to be coated properly to glide effortlessly over any terrain.

Just think what could be accomplished if people took the time to study up, and learn from the people who already know ... why we could do anything in this world!

Amundsen is a great example of "Knowledge is power." I like to think he must have been a great library user. (What can I say--I'm a Librarian by profession.)