From 1901 to 1904, Wilson acted as junior surgeon, zoologist and expedition artist, setting off on the "Discovery" Expedition on 6 August 1901. They reached Antarctica in January 1902. On 2 November, Wilson, Scott and Ernest Shackleton set off on a journey that, at the time, was the southernmost trek achieved by any explorer. The party had dogs but they were not experienced in using them and the food brought for the dogs had gone bad. With many of the dogs dead, they turned back on 31 December, having reached latitude 82° 17'S. They had travelled farther south than anyone before them and were only from the Pole.