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

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!

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).

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!

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!

Today(?!): The group woke up tis morning knowing they would hit the Pole! in -33°C and a sunny sky they could see the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station on the horizon. That is very exciting.

Yesterday went very well as they now have really gotten into the Polar travel groove. Today a mere 6,5 km will take them to the Geographical South Pole. It will be magic.

The confusing thing is that they will leave the camp the 13^th in the Chilean time zone and swap to the New Zealand time zone as the near the Pole. As New Zealand is some 16 hours before Chile (12 before us) they will arrive at their destination at the very 14^th December! How great is that!

They are due in at 08:00 (20:00 in Norway). At 16:00 there will be an outdoor gathering with the Prime Minister and others holding speeches. At 18:30 the team and Norwegians are invited into the Station itself for a closed celebration. – They will sleep well after that…

Check out the live webcam from the Pole:

http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/spo/livecamera.html

Roman & Coco flying the flag / ready for the last ditch / The Team Snåsa flying high

Sunday: The clock is ticking towards the 100 Years Jubilee. That is why Børge sent us a photo of the personal clock Amundsen used on his South Pole conquest in 1911. It is owned by Jann in the group. He is the grandson of one of the participants. He has the clock as he won it in the darts completion they had at Framheim through the winter and their time there. – Jann will bring the clock back 100 years on!

Today they kept their relentless pace, topped 15km and at the end of the day could see the South Pole at the horizon! Excitement is building!

Amundsen's clock and the first sign of the South Pole!

Saturday: Today the Polar Plateau greeted them with the same conditions as yesterday. A relentless cold, wind and sun. A -33°C with headwind made the going hard, but now the team have settled in, their ambition is high and the motivation is rising as they are homing in on the South Pole. Again they did stunning team work and it was a very proud (and a bit relieved) Børge that phoned in the report. They covered another 15.5km. Things look promising and they can now start to look towards the final few legs and the 14^th December Jubilee.

All smiles from Henning on the outside and Roman And Coco on the inside.

My tent is my castle

Friday: Even with the sun out for most of the day it turned out to be a bitterly cold day due to low temperatures and a sever headwind. It was a real insight into Polar life as every move had to be planned and nothing could be done without mittens. It resulted in a few small frostbites, but nothing serious, so the team got through the exam.

They also covered 15,6km witch was a super effort. Børge was very impressed as the team really grew and work together to get that distance. Some had light sledges, some had 50+kg and some even pulled 80-90kg! They also managed to get in enough food and drink during the day. This is super important, as they learned yesterday, but very tricky in conditions like this.

Hats off and let’s hope they can keep this up.

Thursday: The day was actually very nice with sun and no wind. The plan was to attempt 12km, but that was not to be. One of the participants had probably not drank enough and got the chill. Body frost is serious and it was no other possibility than to stop at once and camp. The distance 7km.

Now we hope that he will regain his strength and temperature so that we cam continue as planned tomorrow. We are crossing out fingers.

Hennin sends his happy greetings to all friends and family in both Norway and Brasil.