At the Mountains of Madness

The sense of cosmic dread is palpable; I'm curious whether Lovecraft drew from personal fears or was purely imaginative. How much do you think his mindset shaped the horror?

The detailed descriptions add depth but sometimes felt like a digression. Do others think these moments enhanced or hindered the suspense?

The icy, isolating setting amplifies the horror, but I'm wondering if Lovecraft was influenced by real explorations or simply loved the idea of the unknown continent.