It is over 400 nautical* miles (* longer than a regular mile) from land to the North Pole. Commander Peary put 24 men with over 130 dogs on the job to make a trail across the ice. They worked in teams and went back after they had worked very hard hauling supplies and making igloo camps. Peary told others that Matt was the best man on the trip, so he chose him to go all the way to the Pole. Matt had worked with Peary for 18 years in the Arctic. He was the most experienced, most capable, and one of the best trail breakers to ever lead dog teams to the Pole.