December 19th, 2011
Posted in JUBILEE LAST DEGREE | by Lars Ebbesen | One Comment »
Monday morning / Punta Arenas: The team landed a bit after 09:00 out time in Punta Arenas! This is wonderful news. Antarctica has her own ways and schedules not is what she is bothered about. This being so close to Christmas it is double nice she let our folks out in time for their planned flights home.
It is, from what we understand, a very successful Jubilee trip. They have struggled, they have fought, they have reached their goal. They have savoured a moment and an occasion that will go down as ‘Were you really at the Pole then?!?!?’
We can’t wait to get the real stories! For us here back home. Thank you for logging in, and if you have been inspired, do check out our very special trips to The North & South Pole, Across Patagonia, Greenland and Finnmark. – Mery Christmas & a very Happy New Year from Børge, Bemgt and LArs
December 18th, 2011
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Sunday evening / Union Glacier: Yessss! The Ilyushin is estimated in at Union Glacier at 23:00 Chilean time (02:00 Norwegian)! That is very good news from the ice. After Børge and the last part of the team arrived at Union 17. December, the weather has been a bit iffy. Much to hard wind and very uncertain weather reports. It looked dodgy.
On the upside was a camp in the best possible mode, and they were served champagne from an ‘Amundsen Ice-bar’ out in the cold. The catering and service of ALE has bee impressive at this the hardest place on earth to reach.
Tonight they will fly out and land in Punta Arenas around 05:00 – or as we land on work at 09:00 back here at home. It is about time to start bombing them with sms messages! Our heroes will be home for Christmas!
Posted in AMUNDSEN SOUTH POLE 2011 | by Lars Ebbesen | No Comments »
Saturday / Day 18: All smiles today. The 35,6km just evaporated as they had a great day. The terrain changed as they got a bit further down, with lots of small clusters of sastugi. It made for fun and interesting walking.
Now they have just 38km left. They stick to their regime and plan 100%, refusing to push hard just to get there, The South Pole is a huge goal, – but in reality just a halfway mark. Risking anything just to get there a bit faster would be deviating from Polar handicraft which is ‘never leave a winning theme. It’s all about rhythm, routine, a strict timetable and rest.
Only Trond will leave the team here and go back. It will be sad to see him leave. Pretty sure he will de overjoyed to bag the Pole, but sad not to continue what has been an incredible adventure. – Though at Jæren in Norway they will be both proud and happy.
Great going!
December 17th, 2011
Posted in AMUNDSEN SOUTH POLE 2011 | by Lars Ebbesen | One Comment »
Friday / Day 19: They are not all that communicative right now. They have started the last bit for the South Pole, so now they walk and sleep. Friday they did 33.6km. This leaves them some 73,4km to go. We have a sneaking feeling they may target Sunday evening as a possible arrival!
Will that be possible? If so it may be the fastest ever coast to the Pole journey in history… This lot is serious stuff. Anyway, they day was aging nice. Cold and sunny and they have descended to 2950m. Stay tuned!
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Thursday / Day 17+18: The last couple of days have been very good. 31,1km and 32,3km in very good conditions. They are in a favourable weather window and maximizing it. Not that they are pushing, just enjoying and letting the skis run as effortless as they can. Their main concern is to arrive at the Pole in the best possible shape. – 1140km is waiting and the push will be then…
Yesterday they had a downhill! A 10m descent in only 1 kilometre! It felt like bliss and they were overjoyed. (– Does not seem like it take a lot to get them over the moon…)
What else? Ottar and Jacob has caught up with them! They are running to a schedule 3-4 hours later, but they have camped together which is great fun. Meet-ups are not what you expect in Antarctica.
They are also into their last degree. Less than 111km to the South Pole feels great and they are now very exited to hit this formidable target in 3-4 days. The party may be over, but to arrive in style and make Amundsen proud will be overwhelming.
A group photo - though everybody is at sleep...
December 16th, 2011
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South Pole / Union Glacier: Børge just called in. The flights are going well and lots of people have been flown all the back to Union Glacier.
From our team half have just been flown back while Børge and the ‘Snåsa-gang’ are still at the Pole. Børge said that some of the early ones might even be lucky to be on the gig plane back to Punta this evening. But it was all up in the air.
It was a bit sad the group was split as teamwork has been fantastic and everybody wanted to sign off with a big and memorable dinner in Punta Arenas. – Well, that may still happen! Stay tuned!
Finally the flights back have started. here the Bassler (DC3).
December 15th, 2011
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Børge called in just to update us on the celebrations. It had been fantastic. Børge is not a man to take off on things like this, but he was clearly moved by the whole thing.
In the ‘Norwegian’ (+ a few of our foreign teammates) gathering inside the Station, he told of his trips and drew parallels to the old masters. It was a very worthy end to what has been a very close encounter with polar reality, history and superb teammates.
The first flights out is delayed, but we leave you with some images of the party. More later.
Partytime!
December 14th, 2011
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Our specially designed Åsnes Jubilee ski - direct from Antarctica!
14th December 2011: What a day! 100 years ago one of the most tens and hard fought Explorer races was settled in favour of Roald Amundsen and his men. It was a lesson in Polar- and expedition-handicraft that shocked and changed the world. It was focus on details and planning in stead of drama and plump heroism. – we here are extremely proud of our guys who seem to be the only ones to have learned the Amundsen Lesson – ‘cause aren’t thy doing well?
Again, they banged in 31km in a very good day. They also descended 40m which is a great feeling. Not that they can feel the difference, but the horizon in visibly lower in front of them! They also report oh huge booms. That shocks you the first few times, but them you calm down. It is a know phenomena there the snow compressing and leaving big air pockets under the top snow-crust. On weight it cracks and gives out a huge boooooom!
Posted in JUBILEE LAST DEGREE | by Lars Ebbesen | 2 Comments »
14. December (New Zealand time): After waking up this morning they just took their time and for once had a leisure morning. Knowing this day would be one of the longest in their life, there were no stress.
Approaching the South Pole is not easy. Due to the Ski-way and planes landing you have to follow strict rules the last couple of kilometres.- But, on this beautiful day, they came good and in the very early hours of New Zealand time they stood on the Pole. Soon they were greeted by lots of people and even the Norwegian Prime Minister! It was tears, hugs and cheers all around. Stay tuned, we will get more later (when they wake up?)!
Proof of the Pudding! All Over Down Under! Been there Done That!
December 13th, 2011
Posted in AMUNDSEN SOUTH POLE 2011 | by Lars Ebbesen | 3 Comments »
The cold taxes not only the body but also all the equipment. Worst off is the photo-finger of Jacob
Monday / Day15: Again they banged in 31,5km in cold but good conditions. As the team called in their report, the news broke that another two is being flown out and to the Pole for the Celebrations tomorrow. Of the 3 teams going in along the Amundsen route non has managed to get to the Pole for the 14th December. Only our guys are finishing I style and without depots.
Some of that is due to being delayed in the beginning. But nobody was delayed as much as out guys. But, Christian reflects on the fact that Asle T Johansen, Stein P Åshein and Jan Gunnar Winter all have left team members behind to be part of the Party and Glory.
This route is simply very hard, very cold and taxes the skiers much harder than on other routes. This is Christians 3rd route to the South Pole, and he is very impressed by both Amundsen and Scott as the characteristics of the terrain here makes it very taxing. The altitude, the wind and the relentless, extreme cold makes all margins very small and it is hard and dangerous to push more than planned. He is not surprised the others dis not reach their goals, and even though he is sad they flew out he fully understands that. They probably had nothing in reserved as they are not really experienced in this sort of expeditions.
They themselves had a cold but good day. They believe they topped Titan Dome as they thought they descended some 10m! Today Toe has written a piece. It is in Norwegian so it is found on the Norwegian side of the Blog. Try to put it through Google translate – it is a good account of live out there from the youngest ever.
