This is Bennett Island. It's just a rocky, icy outcropping north of Siberia that

looks like nothing more than a frozen cliff face rising from the Arctic Ocean. As you might

imagine, this is one of the last places on Earth you'd want to be stranded. In 1902, an esteemed

Russian scientist was exactly that, left stranded on this island.

So this is his horrifying ordeal, and as always, viewer discretion is advised.

In the winter of 1903, the chill over the Russian Empire wasn't just from the snow and cold.

It was the growing fear that one of the most esteemed scientists, Baron Edward Montel, had

vanished somewhere in the Arctic's white void. Months had passed without any word from him,

and the last anyone had heard, he and three companions were in good health, camped on Bennett Island. This is an island north of the Siberian mainland,

and at that point they were planning their return to the mainland. That note had been dated

October 26, 1902, and since then there have been nothing but silence, and so the St. Petersburg

Academy of Sciences was panicking. Edward wasn't just another explorer chasing a dream, he was a respected geologist, a baron,

and a symbol of national pride.

Losing him wasn't just a tragedy, it was a scandal, and so someone had to go after him.

That someone would end up being 29-year-old naval lieutenant Alexander Colchuk.

Alexander was ambitious, sharp, and driven by a fierce

loyalty and had served under Edward during the expedition that caused Edward to become lost in the

first place. This meant he knew the region well, he knew all the risks, and he knew the odds of

success were against him, but that didn't matter. When the Academy called for volunteers, Alex stepped

forward without hesitation. Now, in the lead-up to all of this, and prior to the expedition leaving, Edward was no fool.

He wasn't some wide-eyed wanderer, throwing himself at reckless pursuits.

Again, he was a respected scientist, and he was also deliberate and deeply rational.

...