Jørgen Stubberud

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Jørgen Stubberud (17. or 19. April 1883 - 12. February 1980) was a Norwegian polar explorer that participated in the Amundsen Antarctica Expedition between 1910 and 1912.

Stubberud was born at Bekkensten, Svartskog in Oppegård, Norway. He first met with Amundsen at the latter's home at Svartskog in 1909, when he was employed as a carpenter to repear some old houses. Stubberud obviously did the job well, since Amundsen afterwards asked him to build Framheim in his garden. The task given was: "It should a winter quarters, five meters long, four meters wide and five meters high. Figure out the rest yourself!" When the job was done and Amundsen was satisfied with the work, the cabin was dismatled and prepared for shipment with the vessel Fram. Upon arrival in Antarctic Framheim was erected and served the purpose. Stubberud himself seized the opportunity and asked Amundsen: "Captain, may I join your expedition?" The answer was "Yes". With his wife's bessing he then signed a contract to work for Ammundsen the next seven years.

Stubberud was assigned to the original group of eigth men that were making the unsuccessful attempt to reach the Pole on 8 September 1911. Due to extreme temperatures, they were forced to retreat from the depot at 80°, partly without proper organisation and putting the life of two of his men in danger. This was heavily critisised by Hjalmar Johansen, which had experience from his Arctic exploration with Fritjof Nansen. Such opposition was unheard-of and Amundsen then reorganized the Pole party by reducing its number. Consequently, Johansen, together with Kristian Prestrud and Stubberud was separated from the Pole team and tasked with the exploration of King Edward VII Land.

Years later, Stubberud would only speak well about his old boss, but he agreed that he had not properly managed the dispute with Johansen.

Later in life Stubberud worked as a customs officer and lived at Romsås, Oslo.

[edit] References

South Pole Stubberud (In Norwegian)