ContrastsThose who have never skied to the South Pole might imagine it to be frightfully boring. That the same old things are repeated day after day. But that is a far cry from reality.
“Have gone completely blind all day. Breeze from N. with thick drift, and greater, more constant snowfall than I have yet seen in these regions.”– Amundsen on this day 100 years ago (Read more …) 
Let’s take today as an example. After our morning breakfast bar (still no fiver) we had intended to start skiing. But the team that staggered out of the tents this morning was one of the sorriest sights ever seen in these parts. Jan-Gunnar was nearly annihilated by migraine. Vegard tumbled out of the 4-man tent only half conscious, leaving his tent-mate Harald Dag prostrate inside struggling not to vomit. Reason: low oxygen levels in the tent. Stein was feeling the effects of altitude sickness. When this sorry bunch, despite everything, eventually got moving, the speed was about 2 km/h. At best, we could hope to reach the South Pole in time for Amundsen’s 150-year anniversary. But what happened next? The wind began to blow – at the right speed, from the right angle. Up went our sails. We rigged up two little convoys, each consisting of one accomplished ski-sailor, two sleds, and one man with the skills needed for being towed. And when the day was over, the morning’s miserable group had done a full 58 kilometres. A new record! Position: S 86 47.710, E 179 23.843
Temperature: -24°C Wind: 4–6 m/s from the southeast Elevation: 2950 metres Distance traversed: 58 km Distance behind Amundsen: 79 km Total distance traversed: 954 km Distance remaining to the South Pole: 357 km Did you know that Africa and Antarctica were once neighbours?
About 500-600 million years ago, the supercontinent Gondwana was formed. This ancient continent consisted of Antarctica, Africa, India, Australia and South America. |
South Pole 1911–2011 is an informational outreach project run by the Norwegian Polar Institute
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