Snow Cruiser Expedition Drove Backward

The 1939-41 United States Antarctic Service Expedition deployed the Antarctic Snow Cruiser, a 55-foot, roughly 37-ton vehicle designed to transport explorers across the continent. When it reached the Little America Antarctic base in January 1940, its smooth, treadless tires sank as much as 3 feet into the snow and barely gripped the ice. The crew tried spare tires and chains before discovering that the vehicle gained more traction in reverse. They completed its longest trek of 92 miles entirely in reverse.

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