Amundsen team is through with the Heiberg, Scott team is still fighting the Beardmore

Published on 20.12.2011 - The Scott Amundsen Centenary Race

For the Amundsen duo, it's their first day on the Plateau. For Scott trio, they hardly made it to the top of Beardmore. They still have many crevasses on the way.

Amundsen

  • 20 December - Day 48 : 85S48'19" 169W40'47" / Wind: 30 mph (gusting 35 mph) / Temperature: -49°c wind / Altitude: 8,973 ft / Daily distance travelled: Rest day / Total distance travelled: 444.6 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 252 nmi. Weather: Foul, very windy, no visibility.
  • 19 December - Day 47 : 85S48'19" 169W40'47" / Wind: 4 mph (gusting to 10 mph) / Temperature: -20°c (-41°c wind) / Altitude: 8,973 ft / Daily distance travelled: 12.2 nmi / Total distance travelled: 444.6 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 252 nmi / Weather: Perfect, but very cold.
  • 18 December - Day 46 : 85S36'44" 168W53'1" / Wind: 12 mph / Temperature: -42°c / Altitude: 9,156 ft (day's highest 9,500ft) / Daily distance travelled: 8.2 nmi / Total distance travelled: 432.4 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 264 nmi / Weather: Very cold, good visibility.
  • 17 December - Day 45 : 85S29'24" 168W5'34" / Wind: 4mph / Temperature: -30°c / Altitude: 8,715ft / daily distance travelled: 3.7 nmi / Total distance travelled: 424.2 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 271 nmi / Weather: Generally good, very cold.
  • 16 December - Day 44 : no datas available.
  • 15 December - Day 43 : 85S29'22" 166W27'30" / Wind: Nil / Temperature: -11°c / Altitude: 6,631ft / Daily distance travelled: 2.3 nmi / Total distance travelled: 416 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 271 nmi /Weather: Perfect weather, no wind.
  • 15 December - Day 42 : 85S27'21" / 166W12'20" / Wind: 2mph / Temperature: -10°c / Altitude: 5,664ft / Daily distance travelled: 1.0 nmi / Total distance travelled: 413.7 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 273 nmi / Weather: Perfect, bright, no cloud.

Being for their first day on the plateau, both men are happy to have made it so far ; but still they have to acclimatise -the high altitude (9.000 ft above sea level) is taking its toll. On 19 December, they manage to advance 12.2 Nm though.

Distance to the Pole (straight line): 252 nmi / Total distance travelled: 444.6 nmi.

Scott

  • 20 December - Day 48 :  84S52'0", 163E17'15" / Wind: 8mph / Temperature: -15 (-23°c wind chill) : Altitude: 7,805 ft : Daily distance travelled: 10.2 nmi / Total distance travelled: 464 nmi : Distance to the Pole: 307 nmi / Weather: Very clear, perfect.
  • 19 December - Day 47 : 84S46'17", 164E56'1" / Wind: Nil in morning, 5mph northerly / Temperature: -15 (-23°c wind chill) / Altitude: 5,367 ft / Daily distance travelled: 12.7 nmi / Total distance travelled: 453.8 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 313 nmi / Weather: Bright & sunny, slight chill.
  • 18 December - Day 46 : 84S39'0", 166E41'51" / Wind: Nil in morning, 5-10mph later / Temperature: -10 (-23°c wind chill) / Altitude: 4,876 ft / Daily distance travelled: 10.9 nmi / Total distance travelled: 441.1 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 323 nmi / Weather: Colder later in day.
  • 17 December - Day 45 : 84S32'9", 168E11'7" / Wind: 4mph / Temperature: -18 (-22°c wind chill) / Altitude: 4,230 ft / Daily distance travelled: 10.4 nmi / Total distance travelled: 430.2 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 330 nmi / Weather: Cold, clear skies, good visibility.
  • 16 December - Day 44 : 84S25'7", 169E30'5" / Wind: 3-5mph southerly, northerly later / Temperature: -10 (-13°c wind chill) / Altitude: 3,382 ft / Daily distance travelled: 12 nmi / Total distance travelled: 419.8 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 335 nmi / Weather: Clear & sunny, excellent temp.
  • 15 December - Day 43 : 84S6'14", 170E39'34" / Wind: 0-5 knts / Temperature: -16 (-22°c wind chill) / Altitude: 2,261 ft / Daily distance travelled: 13.7 nmi / Total distance travelled: 399.6 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 354 nmi / Weather: Clear & bright, gentle breeze.
  • 14 December - Day 42 : 84S6'14", 170E39'34" / Wind: 0-5 knts / Temperature: -16 (-22°c wind chill) / Altitude: 2,261 ft / Daily distance travelled: 13.7 nmi / Total distance travelled: 399.6 nmi / Distance to the Pole: 354 nmi / Weather: Clear & bright, gentle breeze.

Excerpts (20 December) : "... Team Scott are at the top of the Beardmore Glacier (or thereabouts), but still in the midst of all those crevasses. Mark displays his own talent for understatement by calling it all “exciting times”, with legs down crevasses and all sorts. Mark puts our minds at rest though – we can be confident that the guys know their safety procedures back to front and can overcome any challenge. Come on, boys, show Old Man Beardmore what’s for! ..."

Distance to the Pole (straight line): 307 nmi / Total distance travelled: 464 nmi.

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