In 1975 I spent a week at Beechey Island, where the Franklin expedition stayed 1845-46. John Torrington age 20 years was the first to die. I always have, and always will, think of his memory when visiting Beechey Island.

That was towards the end of “the Little Ice Age,” when staying over winter meant being iced in 11 months or 2 or 3 years, or crushed in the ice. This is certainly not the case now.

Perhaps Franklin would have made it through the Northwest Passage if the climate had been the same then as it is today.