Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Centennial celebrations!

Today the team had a great day. The ski team woke up and had a hearty breakfast, broke camp and skied the remaining 5 miles to the South Pole. They were joined at the Pole by our flight team and together they celebrated a very special occasion - the wedding of Sally and Daniel! As if the 100 year anniversary of the South Pole's discovery was not enough!

There are many festivities taking place and several expeditions converging at the Pole. At 12:00AM Punta Arenas time the Norwegian Premier is scheduled to ski to the Pole from a short distance away and deliver a short address. This is to be broadcast in Norway tomorrow, the actual anniversary (or today if you on the other side of the date line!) Our team will be with his at the Pole as this occurs.

The South Pole has been temporarily transformed for this event. The Pole itself is surrounded by the country flags of the original signers of the Antarctic treaty. Nearby there is a Visitor's Center tent to introduce expedition teams to the research that is being conducted at the South Pole as well as what it's like to live at the base. About a kilometer away is the NGO basecamp, where our team is staying. This has turned out to be a "who's who" of polar explorers and adventurous travelers.

Our team is part of a larger group of adventurers, dignitaries and scientists from around the world who have gathered to commemorate Amundsen's remarkable 1911 expedition. 100 years ago today he wrote in his journal...

"Our finest day yet up here. It has been still most of the day with burning hot sunshine. Surface and terrain the same. The snow crust is fortunately so hard that the sledges and dogs only sink a little in it. The hypsometer still shows a decline, although very little and it must now be presumed that we have not only determined the highest point but also come down on the other side. We have done 15 n.m. today and now lie, after the midday observations, at 89°30’30”. Observations and instrument agree wonderfully every day now. We are relying on only one sextant now, the Fram sextant, since the other one has unfortunately had a knock and is not dependable. Helmer, Wisting & I now use the Fram sextant together.
Amundsen used a sextant to navigate but today the South Pole station stands on the horizon, something our skiers can attest to. We will be posting  more about Amundsen's arrival at the South Pole in tomorrows blog entry. In the meantime make sure to listen to the audio report from Jim Johnson and check back again tomorrow for another update from the team!

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