Wolves didn't have MapQuest--they had to get around somehow.

Actually, the first verifiable expedition to the North Pole was completed by Italia's sister ship, the Norge, with no major problems on the way there. (On the way back, a hard landing damaged the keel such that the airship had to be dismantled and shipped back to Italy in boxes, but that's neither here nor there.)

Despite stereotypes, airships were actually much hardier than the planes of the time. Their considerable fuel endurance and excellent low-speed handling made them well-suited for riding out storms, and even hydrogen-filled airships were surprisingly durable.