Welcome to the blog of the Amundsen Centennial South Pole Expedition! Our team gathered for an official welcome reception this evening in a very fitting place, the Shackleton Bar in Punta Arenas. Over pisco sours and tapas everyone got acquainted, or re-acquainted, as is the case for many people.
We have a wonderful team of 16 seasoned travelers who are looking forward to celebrating the 100 year anniversary of Amundsen's arrival at the South Pole on December 14. Weather permitting our team will depart for Antarctica on Friday.
Tomorrow the team will have a pre-flight briefing where they will learn about recent conditions in Antarctica. Weather on the white continent can be extremely fickle and we are keeping our fingers crossed that the forecasts for good weather hold through Friday and beyond.
For those of you interested in history, you'll enjoy knowing that 100 years ago today Amundsen had one of his best days. In his journal he wrote:
Some of the team members will be skiing the last 20 kilometers to the South Pole. They spent some time today reviewing their team kit, including the tents. We'll be keeping you posted on their progress when they are "on the ice" as well as the activities of our team who fly the whole way.
Listen to the audio report from Dirk and check back in tomorrow for another update from the Amundsen Centennial South Pole Expedition!
We have a wonderful team of 16 seasoned travelers who are looking forward to celebrating the 100 year anniversary of Amundsen's arrival at the South Pole on December 14. Weather permitting our team will depart for Antarctica on Friday.
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| The team at the Shackleton Bar in Punta Arenas |
Tomorrow the team will have a pre-flight briefing where they will learn about recent conditions in Antarctica. Weather on the white continent can be extremely fickle and we are keeping our fingers crossed that the forecasts for good weather hold through Friday and beyond.
For those of you interested in history, you'll enjoy knowing that 100 years ago today Amundsen had one of his best days. In his journal he wrote:
And if you wonder why there is a Shackleton Bar in Punta Arenas... In the summer of 1916 Shackleton landed in Punta Arenas and organized two rescue attempts to recover his team that was stranded on elephant Island. To be surrounded by such history is exciting and awe inspiring for many!One of our great days. Although it didn’t look like it would be this morning. Fog and bad visibility as usual. But the wind had slackened a lot during the night; the little bit that remained came from the NE. Terrain and surface were first class. Flat, really flatwith no signs of snowdrifts. The annoying small heaps of loose snowdrift which had been such a nuisance these past few days, had disappeared and the surface for the skis was absolutely A1
Some of the team members will be skiing the last 20 kilometers to the South Pole. They spent some time today reviewing their team kit, including the tents. We'll be keeping you posted on their progress when they are "on the ice" as well as the activities of our team who fly the whole way.
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| Tony and Dave get hands on with the tents |
Listen to the audio report from Dirk and check back in tomorrow for another update from the Amundsen Centennial South Pole Expedition!
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