South Pole travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Although there's more than one definition of "the South Pole", the most popularly accepted one (and a travel destination) is a fixed location in the southern hemisphere at the Earth's axis of rotation, latitude 90°S (longitude not applicable). Unlike the North Pole , which is nothing but a sheet of ice floating on the surface of the Arctic Ocean, the geographic South Pole is located on solid ground, allowing a permanent research station to be built at the site of the pole itself. Although it was once an elusive goal that took the lives of many explorers, thanks to modern technology, it has been permanently staffed since 1956, and is now a destination of commercial travel expeditions. "The South Pole" is also defined geomagnetically. This pole drifts around, and since there's nothing particularly interesting about it other than perhaps watching your compass not work, it receives no visitors. There's also a southern pole of inaccessibility, the point in Antarctica farthest from any coastline.

This is a fixed location (barring major sea level changes that might redefine coastlines) at 85°50'S 65°47'E, but as the name suggests, travel to this point is generally impractical. History[ edit ] The first persons to successfully reach the south pole were the 5 men of a party led by Roald Amundsen, who reached the pole on December 14, 1911. A competing British team led by Robert F. Scott reach the pole on January 17, 1912, but ran short of supplies and died of starvation or exposure 11 miles from their last supply depot. A US Navy plane with 2 aboard flew over the pole on November 29, 1929. No one stepped foot on the south pole until 1956, when another US Navy plane reached the pole, landing this time. Soon thereafter, the US constructed a station as part of the International Geophysical Year, which has been permanently staffed since. Climate[ edit ] It's tempting to say that the climate at the South Pole is consistently cold, but it is not.

In December it is very cold, with an average temperature of around -28℃ (-18℉). However In July it is astonishingly cold, with temperatures sagging to -80℃ (-112℉). (Note that there are no "day-time highs" or "night-time lows" in these figures, because the sun only sets and rises once each year.) Snowfall is scarce; since weather systems rarely penetrate into inland Antarctica and because the temperature is often too low, hence its desert status. The existing snow does drift, however, with winds averaging a modest 12 knots. (At these temperatures, calculating wind-chill factors is fairly pointless.) Antarctica is the coldest, windiest continent on Earth and as such an expedition there surely carries a risk of danger. Freak snowstorms and white conditions (both caused by high winds) can affect South Pole expeditions and have buried the ceremonial South Pole markers (they have to be bulldozed out of the snow usually). Landscape[ edit ] The terrain around the South Pole is consistently flat. Ice is fluid enough to settle to a flat surface if left undisturbed, and the underlying rock isn't geologically active, nor is there any rainfall to sculpt it.

Get in[ edit ] The ceremonial South Pole with the geodesic dome station in the background Antarctica is (for obvious reasons) the least-visited continent, and the South Pole is (because it is not accessible by sea) the least-visited site in Antarctica that is nominally "open to tourism". Most expeditions take place in November thru January, during the Antarctic summer/day. They generally launch from Punta Arenas at the southern tip of Chile , stop at Patriot Hills camp in the Ellsworth Mountains on Antarctica, and make the final leg of the trip by air as a day trip to the Pole itself. Some expeditions drop travelers well short of the Pole, leaving them to finish on the ice. From nov-2013. All companies have the same new price $45,000 USD, and increasing.... Adventure Network [1] . Offers flights several times a year for a chilly US$45,800 per person. Also offers guided treks by ski to the South Pole.

Covering the full 1170km from coast to Pole involves an estimated 65 days of skiing, for about 7-9 hours a day, hauling a sled weighing 110-130 lbs (50-60 kg), and the price for the privilege is US$60,500. Alternatively, you can cheat and fly halfway there with the "Ski the Last Degree" package, in which case you'll ski for only about two weeks and pay a mere US$58,900. "White Desert" [2] . Offer an 8-day programme to the South Pole by air in a DC3 Basler turbo-prop plane. They are the only operators to offer a luxury service with an stylish and comfortable camp, award winning chef and highly experienced polar explorers as guides. White Desert operators from Dronning Maud Land, priced at 64,000 EUROS. Arctic Odysseys. [3] . Offers a 10-day excursion to Antarctica, including a day at the Pole. Icetrek, [4] .

Offers a week-long excursion by air with one day at the Pole (US$33,500), and 15- to 25-day expeditions cross-country skiing the last 1 or 2 degrees (starting at US$38,500). PolarExplorers, [5] . Offers a two-week expedition skiing the last degree to the Pole. US$37,500. Voyage Concepts, [6] . Offers a two-week excursion by air with one day at the Pole, and a 25-day expedition (including all travel time and stopovers) skiing the last degree to the Pole and flying back. Departs from London by way of Buenos Aires . $42,450 and up. Get around[ edit ] The area of interest around the Pole is quite compact, making it easy to get from one part to another on foot. Venturing farther afield should be done on skis or using base transportation.

See[ edit ][ add listing ] The current modular elevated station with the ceremonial South Pole behind it and the geodesic dome to the right There is a ceremonial south pole at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, consisting of a metal sphere on a red and white pole, partially surrounded by the flags of the signatories of the Antarctic Treaty. Although great for photo opportunities, it is actually about 300 meters from the exact loction of the South Pole. The geographic south pole is marked by a simpler rod with a head on it. The rod's head is made of brass, and is designed and moulded on-site. The ice on which the station sits shifts about 10 meters annually, and a new marker is added each year in a small ceremony. There is also a sign bearing quotes from the journals of Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott, leaders of the first two successful expeditions to the South Pole.

(Scott's party arrived 34 days after Amundsen's, and died on the return trip.) There are three generations of structures at the site: The Old Pole, the original wooden station, built in 1956 and abandoned in 1975, now buried by drifting snow, off-limits for safety reasons. The metallic Geodesic Dome built in the early 1970s, 50 meters wide and 16 meters tall, enclosed several modular buildings, but was decommissioned in 2008 and completely disassembled in 2009-2010. The spot it formerly occupied is now pretty much indistinguishable after snow drifted in to cover it. The brown Elevated Station begun in 1999, a modular structure built on stilts to prevent snow from accumulating around it. Semicylindrical metal "arches" next to the dome serve as storage, power plant, and vehicle workshop; they're connected to the main station via a 6-story unheated metal tower officially termed the "vertical tower" on the drawings, but known around station as the "beer can".

A Visitor Centre was erected on-site to cater for the few visitors the base receives. It was opened in response to pressure from visitors to be allowed into the official research building, which is technically forbidden. The centre is no more than a small tent-like structure. Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Ask for a tour of the station from staff. Some staff volunteer to be tour guides for visitors, so you may be able to get a tour of the Elevated Station. It is very unlikely that you will be allowed to visit the South Pole Telescope (SPT), the Atmospheric Research Observatory (ARO), or the Ice Cube Lab Neutrino Detector (ICL). These are working research facilities and do not allow tourists. You will not be allowed to walk around un-escorted on the base as it can be dangerous to those who do not know the area or hazards. Safe areas for camps are located near the visitor center between SPT, ARO and the Elevated Station. In late December an ice sculpture contest is held by station staff and researchers. Some beautiful and whimsical ice art can be created. The sculptures are displayed until the closing of the station in early February, when they are destroyed to prevent the formation of snow drifts during the winter.

Frisbee golf—"holes" are sometimes set up around the base to play frisbee golf...if you can handle the temperatures! Stay healthy[ edit ] All of the health and safety advisories for Antarctica in general apply to the Pole. Although the ground at the South Pole is close to sea level, the thick ice at that location raises the station to an altitude of 9,300 feet (2,835 meters). And because the earth's rotation causes the atmosphere to thin out at the poles, the air pressure is more like at 11,000 feet. So in addition to preparing for the coldness and dryness of the air, travel to the Pole also requires acclimatization for high-altitude travel. (See the Altitude sickness article for more.) The altitude also makes the danger of UV exposure even greater than at the Antarctic coast. Get out[ edit ] All visitors to the South Pole head north from there, as that is - literally - the only direction in which you can go.

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (Bill Spindler's Antarctica) Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Welcome to Pole Here is a January 2015 photo by Peter Rejcek...I like it because it illustrates that the geographic Pole is moving away from the station (well, actually it's vice versa). The full size photo is in the Antarctic Photo Library . Are those snowdrifts getting deeper? From what I've seen, the snowdrifts are now much deeper than I remember. This page includes a series of comparison photos I took in 2005 and 2008 of the drifting around the elevated station. South Pole News ... 16 January...lots of stuff happening. TWO vessels at (or offshore from) McMurdo...updates about the new Pole marker...construction and demolition in the old construction/summer camp area...and lots of NGO travelers showing up...or not. (news) . 15 December...the first of three traverses arrived from McMurdo last week. And there are some new Polie blog links out there... 86-year-old Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon, was medevaced from Pole after arriving as a tourist.

He was flown out of Pole on 1 December and reached Christchurch on the morning of 2 December. 25 November...the new Phoenix runway is now officially certified for use by C-17 aircraft...and a slightly smaller aircraft overflew Pole earlier in November. The opening Pole flights from McMurdo were Baslers on 27 and 29 October; the first Herc didn't show up until 2 November. And things are still a bit hehind...Robert Schwarz has been stuck at Pole for more than a week after he was supposed to leave. Elsewhere...literary folks (Kim Stanley Robinson) and politicos (Secretary of State John Kerry, the highest ranking American leader) visited McMurdo, and a University of Maine glaciologist perished in a crevasse at the shear zone. Oh, there's an expanded list of prospective nongovernmental visitors to Pole this summer. 11 October...the first transiting Basler has arrived...followed shortly by another. Winter is about over! 9 October...many of the winterover Polies will be in Estes Park, CO this week for team building stuff, followed by fire and medical training.

And the Kenn Borek transit flights from Rothera are also scheduled for this week. 24 September. The sun is up! A new medical cooperative project between NASA and USAP has been announced. And we hopefully have the final closure on the Al Baker murder conviction appeals. 7 September...the twilight is about to block out the last brightest stars. Before that happened, a huge igloo was constructed in front of the station...and then made to go away, but not before a number of folks slept in it overnight. And about eight or nine years before the current USAP support contract with Lockheed-Martin is scheduled to expire, they're out, and Leidos is in. 30 July...yes, the medevac was a success, the GOES-3 satellite was decommissioned (coinciding with the official announcement that the DSCS-3 satellite is in use), and, well, the winter night is almost over, as moonlight and twilight are soon to be on the horizon. (And Bill Spindler is frantically in the midst of moving to Boulder, hence the lack of updates of late).

23 June...medevac updates...the Twin Otter arrived at Pole around 0900 SP time on the 22rd... and departed around 2300...arriving at Rothera with both patients approximately 0515 on 23 June . They immediately boarded the second Twin Otter, which got them to Punta Arenas at 1341 the same day. 1 June...the darkest month of the year, which means there are great auroras visible. Satellites...a new one is up, an old one is going down. An elusive inactive icebreaker (the Polar Sea) was recently sighted and documented on the Columbia River off Astoria. And...there is a job opening for 2018 winter site manager. 27 April...it is winter and dark at Pole. There are things happening...a new Phoenix Airfield at McMurdo...the replacement BIF at Pole...some new website/blog links, and an extensive new list of planned 2016-17 nongovernmental visitors. News... . 16 February...the closing flight did happen, leaving behind 48 folks.

15 February it tried, and boomeranged, as visibility was too poor for a landing. 29 January--aircraft issues including a C-130 stuck at Pole, a Twin Otter losing a ski on takeoff prompting an emergency response (no injuries), and of course passengers stuck everywhere. The Polar Star was having mechanical problems...and NGO skier Henry Worsley who'd visited Pole earlier this month was evacuated near the end of his journey...and died in Punta Arenas. Want an Antarctic job? On this page I've provided everything you need to know about (or at least where to find) how to get a job...updated frequently...and of course after the contract change to Leidos. The dome is gone. And the most comprehensive web collection of dome deconstruction photos is here ! And the message boards are still around...stop by the new home of Mike Poole's Antarctic Memories , which now includes the archives of Glenn Grant's Iceboard. If you have questions or problems with this excellent resource...the best place for info on jobs and life on the ice, ask me for help !

My second winter was in 2005 as the Title II Inspector (huh, what's that?) ...and stayed on for a month after the 21 October station opening until the summer person showed up. I returned to the US on 21 January after 2 months in NZ/OZ. Hopefully before I left I wasn't too toasty to write a feature article for the 30 October 2005 Antarctic Sun.... . Read it for yourself and decide... More news updated 20 January. What else is here: Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Antarctica Tour - YouTube Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Antarctica Tour Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Mar 3, 2013 New! Be sure to check out my full tour of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Field Camp - a remote Antarctic camp!

-- More from South Pole, Antarctica at After living and working at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during the summer 2012-2013 season, I've had the chance to see most parts of the station. Here's a brief narrated tour of both the elevated station as well as the buried service structures. Shot on the Sony RX100. There's a lot to talk about on any tour of the South Pole Station, but I tried to keep this video brief enough to be consumable in a reasonable amount of time. It's shot in 1080P, so feel free to freeze-frame to check out details. Reach out to my on my blog at if you have any specific questions, or want to say hi. Cheers! Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station « on: December 19, 2013, 04:28:48 PM » so if the earth ends at the antartic, why do we have a research station as close to the south pole as possible? have they not gone far enough to find the edge of the earth?

Logged No love lost, no love found so gay I can barely say it with a straight face Re: Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station « Reply #1 on: December 20, 2013, 08:44:58 PM » The Earth does not end at the Antarctic. What ever gave you that idea? I can not say for sure where the Earth ends, if it actually does, but so what if people have walked into the Antarctic and made a base? Good for them, if they think they are at the south pole. They are probably not lying, they are just mistaken about their whereabouts. Logged have they not gone far enough to find the edge of the earth? flat earther's will say that those stations are just at the edge of antartica. some will say the antartic region is nearly infinite, or that it is a disk or square or other shape that has an edge or something like that.. Logged Re: Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station « Reply #3 on: December 20, 2013, 09:06:49 PM » Nobody said the bases were at the edge of Antarctica.

I am sure they are probably a good way inside of the Arctic circle. However, if you were a scientist and I had a base inside of Antarctica, and I told you that it was at the south pole, would you question me? You would like just go sit in a bunch of ice and look at a thermometer for 6 months and never even question where you are. Logged Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 08:44:58 PM The Earth does not end at the Antarctic. What ever gave you that idea? I can not say for sure where the Earth ends, if it actually does, but so what if people have walked into the Antarctic and made a base? Good for them, if they think they are at the south pole. They are probably not lying, they are just mistaken about their whereabouts. Uploaded with ImageShack.us traveling that path, by plane, ATV, or snowmobile has been done sooo explain Flat earther, why is this possible? Logged No love lost, no love found so gay I can barely say it with a straight face ?

Quote from: Romrot on December 20, 2013, 09:08:58 PM traveling that path, by plane, ATV, or snowmobile has been done sooo explain Flat earther, why is this possible? well if this is true, then it would mean the earth is round! but of course flat earthers will say that it's untrue, and that nobody actually has... Logged Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 08:44:58 PM The Earth does not end at the Antarctic. What ever gave you that idea? I can not say for sure where the Earth ends, if it actually does, but so what if people have walked into the Antarctic and made a base? Good for them, if they think they are at the south pole. They are probably not lying, they are just mistaken about their whereabouts. Uploaded with ImageShack.us traveling that path, by plane, ATV, or snowmobile has been done sooo explain Flat earther, why is this possible? lol, your drawing really makes no sense. However, I think you are trying to say that people have crossed Antarctica through the south pole.

If so, then please provide some evidence to back this up. Logged « Reply #7 on: December 20, 2013, 09:17:47 PM » jroa doesn't seem to be making any sense IMHO. Anyone else having the same problem ? LOL Logged Stick close to your close to your P.C.and never go to sea And you all may be Rulers of The Flat Earth Society Look out your window and see what you shall see And you all may be Rulers of The Flat Earth Society Chorus: Re: Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station « Reply #8 on: December 20, 2013, 09:22:27 PM » I fail to see the part of my post that does not make sense. Would you mind quoting it so that I can clarify my post? Logged I fail to see the part of my post that does not make sense. Would you mind quoting it so that I can clarify my post?

How about this for romrot's illustration.: Stick close to your close to your P.C.and never go to sea And you all may be Rulers of The Flat Earth Society Look out your window and see what you shall see And you all may be Rulers of The Flat Earth Society Chorus: Yes ! Never, never, never go to sea ! ? Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 08:44:58 PM The Earth does not end at the Antarctic. What ever gave you that idea? I can not say for sure where the Earth ends, if it actually does, but so what if people have walked into the Antarctic and made a base? Good for them, if they think they are at the south pole. They are probably not lying, they are just mistaken about their whereabouts. Your quote in reference to my previous post. I suppose the stock answer is that the map is a fake.

Logged Stick close to your close to your P.C.and never go to sea And you all may be Rulers of The Flat Earth Society Look out your window and see what you shall see And you all may be Rulers of The Flat Earth Society Chorus: I fail to see the part of my post that does not make sense. Would you mind quoting it so that I can clarify my post? How about this for romrot's illustration.: That is not a quote of mine, and I still do not see where my post does not make sense, as you claim. Logged Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 08:44:58 PM The Earth does not end at the Antarctic. What ever gave you that idea? I can not say for sure where the Earth ends, if it actually does, but so what if people have walked into the Antarctic and made a base? Good for them, if they think they are at the south pole. They are probably not lying, they are just mistaken about their whereabouts. Uploaded with ImageShack.us traveling that path, by plane, ATV, or snowmobile has been done sooo explain Flat earther, why is this possible?

lol, your drawing really makes no sense. However, I think you are trying to say that people have crossed Antarctica through the south pole. If so, then please provide some evidence to back this up. Sorry, I could have done a 3D model in Autodesk Maya or 3D max, but I didn't feel the effort was needed. I used the computer equivalent to crayons "Microsoft paint" because it was the fastest way to illustrate. but you want proof people have crossed the Antarctic? No love lost, no love found so gay I can barely say it with a straight face Re: Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station « Reply #13 on: December 20, 2013, 09:54:52 PM » Before I spend my time reading those links, can you tell me which ones crossed from one side of Antarctica to the other across the south pole? Logged Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 09:54:52 PM Before I spend my time reading those links, can you tell me which ones crossed from one side of Antarctica to the other across the south pole?

Two of them crossed, one of them plans on crossing the other article is a history of the Antarctic It's not my fault your illiterate and refuse to read, read or don't breed. Logged No love lost, no love found so gay I can barely say it with a straight face Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 09:54:52 PM Before I spend my time reading those links, can you tell me which ones crossed from one side of Antarctica to the other across the south pole? Two of them crossed, one of them plans on crossing the other article is a history of the Antarctic It's not my fault your illiterate and refuse to read, read or don't breed. Well, thanks for telling me which ones help your claims and which ones were thrown in just for fluff. Oh, wait, you still have not told me. Well, I will assume that they all are just fluff then, and you have no real evidence. Don't get so mad about not being able to prove your side of the argument. You only make yourself look foolish.

Logged Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 11:44:11 PM Well, thanks for telling me which ones help your claims and which ones were thrown in just for fluff. Oh, wait, you still have not told me. Well, I will assume that they all are just fluff then, and you have no real evidence. Don't get so mad about not being able to prove your side of the argument. You only make yourself look foolish. That one chick crossed and that one dude crossed, and he went to the base and caught a plane from there and flew the rest of the way. Logged No love lost, no love found so gay I can barely say it with a straight face Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 11:44:11 PM Well, thanks for telling me which ones help your claims and which ones were thrown in just for fluff. Oh, wait, you still have not told me. Well, I will assume that they all are just fluff then, and you have no real evidence. Don't get so mad about not being able to prove your side of the argument.

You only make yourself look foolish. That one chick crossed and that one dude crossed, and he went to the base and caught a plane from there and flew the rest of the way. Oh, oh, Okay. Now I see. You can't provide evidence, so now you are claiming personal experience with that one chick and that one dude. I know you were just joking, and I am making light of that. It would be nice if someone could provide evidence of someone crossing Antarctica from one side to the other, while crossing through the south pole. Maybe someone here has more knowledge than you or I? Logged Quote from: jroa on December 20, 2013, 11:44:11 PM Well, thanks for telling me which ones help your claims and which ones were thrown in just for fluff. Oh, wait, you still have not told me. Well, I will assume that they all are just fluff then, and you have no real evidence. Don't get so mad about not being able to prove your side of the argument. You only make yourself look foolish.

That one chick crossed and that one dude crossed, and he went to the base and caught a plane from there and flew the rest of the way. Oh, oh, Okay. Now I see. You can't provide evidence, so now you are claiming personal experience with that one chick and that one dude. I know you were just joking, and I am making light of that. It would be nice if someone could provide evidence of someone crossing Antarctica from one side to the other, while crossing through the south pole. Maybe someone here has more knowledge than you or I? no I'm not joking, maybe you can't tell by the article's headers(because you can't read) but one story was about a woman crossing and another was about a guy. please read or don't breed. good philosophy to live by, in the time it took you to write your responses you could have been done reading all four articles or at least I hope so. I don't know how slow illiterates read, though you should have at least the brain power to read my posts. if you can read them you can read short articles. Logged No love lost, no love found so gay I can barely say it with a straight face Virtual tour of the Pole.

You've arrived at the South Pole after about a 3-hour plane ride from McMurdo . A panoramic view just as you get off the plane. Photo: CARA/Greg Griffin Jump ahead to the imagemap of the South Pole Station . Actual quote from papers given to you: South Pole is an inherently dangerous place. Stay hydrated and be aware of altitude sickness effects. Dress warmly and carry dry clothes and a radio if traveling away from the station. Do not travel on days with less than 1/16th mile visibility. Read the Fire Safety Guide. Be trained on equipment and vehicles and optain permission prior to use. Be aware of smoking policies. Check the [bulletin] board for additional safety information. Plane landing at the South Pole. Photo: CARA/Bill Holzapfel LC130 just after landing at the South Pole. Arriving at the South Pole Station. The station is at an elevation of 2,900 meters; however the equivalent pressure elevation, based on polar atmospheric conditions, will vary from 3,300 to 4,000 meters. No landmarks are visible on the 3,000-meter-thick plateau of ice.

(They actually sell sweatshirts with the saying: "Ski South Pole: 2 miles of base, 2 inches of powder.") South Pole Station is 1,350 km from McMurdo Station and is supported entirely by special ski-equipped planes, among them the LC-130 planes operated for the U.S. Antarctic Program. From 1955 until 1999, the Navy [Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6)] flew various aircraft in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program, including LC-130 aircraft. In 1998 at the Navy's request, the Air Force/Air National Guard took-over command of the DoD support to the USAP (Operation Deep Freeze) from the Navy. VXE-6 continued to augment the Air National Guard with LC-130 flights until it was disestablished in March 1999.

The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing , which had augmented VXE-6 since 1988, became the sole USAP provider of LC-130 aircraft support, beginning with the 1999/2000 field season. Most of the pictures you see on the Virtual Tour date from before 1998, so most of the aircraft pictured are Navy; for more recent photos, see our page on the NYANG . Here is an example of a ski-equipped plane that is not an LC-130 -- it's a Cessna 180 operated by Adventure Network, a private Canadian company. The pod on the bottom is for extra cargo. Some brief history: The geographic South Pole (90 degrees South) has long been a prized goal of Antarctic explorers. The first to reach it were four Norweigians led by Roald Amundsen in 1911. About a month later, in January 1912, the British explorer Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole with four companions. Scott and his party perished from exposure and hunger on their attempted return on foot to the McMurdo Sound region. U.S.

Navy Admiral Richard E. Byrd was the first to fly an airplane over the South Pole (1929), but he did not land there. The site was not visited again until 1956, when Navy Admiral George J. Dufek stepped off an LC-47 with an advance party to build the first permanent South Pole Station. The station was established in 1957 for the International Geophysical Year under Paul Siple, first station scientific leader. It continued to function year-round until January 1975, when the present station was occupied. The new station is about 350 meters from the true Geographic South Pole, (learn more about this on the poles page ) and is drifting toward the pole at about 10 meters/year. Scientific research at the station falls into the general disciplines of upper-atmosphere physics, meteorology, earth sciences, geophysics, glaciology, biomedicine, and astrophysics. Sun, Wind, and Temperatures! Sun -- During the winter at the South Pole, the Sun never rises. (The 6 months of night is another reason this site is good for astronomical observations.) During the summer, the Sun never sets!

It goes all the way around the sky every day. (For more information, see the tour page on Life at the South Pole and the Sun .) All this light can actually be dangerous. Because the South Pole is a high altitude site, the sunlight is very intense. And, in addition, you have lots of reflected light from all the snow. You can't go outside at all without sunglasses (with uv-blocking coating). In fact, there is a substantial risk of snow blindness, where you literally sunburn your eyes -- it can be serious and painful. (Oh, and when you go buy your sunglasses, make sure that you pick ones where none of the metal frame touches your skin!) Wind and Snow -- There is only a trace of precipitation, and drifting is the primary factor in snow accumulation around station structures. Average wind speed is around 12 knots, although many summer days are calm. Temperatures -- The average annual temperature at the South Pole is -50 degrees C and generally ranges between -21 degrees C in the summer and -78 degrees C in the winter.

South Pole medical evacuation flight launched | NSF - National Science Foundation South Pole medical evacuation flight launched Plane to fly patient out of Antarctica for treatment unavailable on the continent In this 2003 photo, a Twin Otter flies out of the South Pole on a previous medical flight. Credit and Larger Version June 14, 2016 For archival b-roll of Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and U.S. Antarctic Program operations, please contact Dena Headlee, (703) 292-7739 / dheadlee@nsf.gov. Officials with the National Science Foundation (NSF) have launched a medical evacuation flight to NSF's scientific station at the geographic South Pole. After comprehensive consultation with outside medical professionals, agency officials decided that a medical situation at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station warrants returning a member of the station's winter crew to a hospital that can provide a level of medical care that is unavailable at the station. The patient is seasonally employed through the Lockheed Martin Antarctic Support Contract (ASC), the prime contract for operations and research support contractor to NSF for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).

NSF is not releasing any further personal or medical information to preserve the patient's privacy. Two propeller-driven Twin Otter aircraft, operated by Kenn Borek Air, Ltd., a Canadian firm that provides contractual logistical support to the Antarctic Program, left Calgary this morning on the first leg of an intercontinental flight to the Pole. The mission will be highly weather-dependent and the current best-case scenario is that a plane would arrive at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station no sooner than June 19. Drawing on the support of other national Antarctic programs, NSF has approved a plan under which the aircraft will fly from Canada via South America to Rothera, a research station on the Antarctic Peninsula managed by the British Antarctic Survey. One of the aircraft will remain at Rothera to provide search-and-rescue capability, while the other aircraft will fly the roughly 1,500 miles from Rothera to the Pole to pick up the patient. It currently is mid-winter in Antarctica. Normally, flights in and out of Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station are not planned between February and October due to the extreme cold and darkness.

Kenn Borek, however, has the experience of flying two similar medical evacuation flights -- one in 2001 and another in 2003. The Twin Otter aircraft that Kenn Borek flies are able to operate in extremely low temperatures and are able to land on skis. As there is no tarmac runway at the South Pole, the aircraft must land in total darkness on compacted snow. Because of the complexity of the operation, the evacuation will require contributions from multiple entities involved in the U.S. Antarctic Program including weather forecasts from the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems (SPAWAR) Center Atlantic; expertise from the University of Texas Medical Branch; and various contributions from ASC, NSF's Colorado-based Antarctic logistics contractor as well as assistance from other nations. Amundsen-Scott is one of three year-round stations NSF operates in Antarctica in its role as manager the U.S. Antarctic Program, the nation's research program on the southernmost continent. There are 48 people wintering at Amundsen-Scott, performing a variety of tasks related to station maintenance and science.

These include overseeing long-term monitoring of the atmosphere and its constituent gases -- such as methane and carbon dioxide -- and scientific observations by two radio telescopes; the 10-meter South Pole Telescope and the BICEP/Keck telescopes, which are using the Cosmic Microwave Background to investigate the early history of the universe, including investigations of dark energy and dark matter that makes up most of the cosmos. Also included is the Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory, which is designed to observe subatomic particles, produced by some of the most violent and exotic cosmic phenomena, including black holes. -NSF- Media Contacts Peter West, NSF, (703) 292-7530, pwest@nsf.gov The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2016, its budget is $7.5 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 48,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards.

NSF also awards about $626 million in professional and service contracts yearly. Frequently Asked Questions about life at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica - Jeffrey Donenfeld Home » Blog » Ask Me Anything » Frequently Asked Questions about life at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica Frequently Asked Questions about life at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica 2013/01/12 Complete Antarctica videos, photos, articles – I lived at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Austral Summer 2012-13. My move here was a long time coming, but the final decision to make the journey here came suddenly, and without a lot of time for reflection or preparation – both for myself, as well as my friends and family. And so, as I made my way down here, lots of questions about how, where, why, and when have come up. To help answer a lot of the more frequent questions, here’s a list of a few of the more common questions I’ve received over the past few weeks. Antarctica FAQ How did you get your job in Antarctica? Getting a job in Antarctica was HARD.

I tried for 4 solid years to get down here, and only got offered the job at the last minute. Here’s my complete saga of job searching.. Getting A Job In Antarctica: My Long Journey 2009-2012 So, it’s difficult, but if you’re dedicated, you can make it happen. I’ve noticed that most people down here are very specialized at what they do, extremely motivated, smart, and outgoing. The guys I’ve been working with on the Askaryan Radio Array (ARA) drill sled are mechanics, scientists, and drillers – and each one of them is highly experienced. Even people like me – a cook, and dishwashers, and janitors – almost everyone has a higher degree, or has been working in the field for a while. It’s difficult to get in, especially if you’re good at a lot of different things, or have a lot of experience at a career that doesn’t directly apply to the specific job (like me, with digital media). So, I’d start working on it now, and making contacts.

Look for the Lockheed Martin Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) page on Facebook, and that has links to all the job boards – PAE, GHG, GSC, NSF, etc – start getting organized now, and plan on submitting your filled out applications for all jobs you might qualify for on March 1, 2013 for the 2013-2014 summer season. Arrived at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica. The geographic pole is about 200 meters away from this sign. How much time did you have to prepare for your trip to the ice? Not a lot. About 5 days. Here’s the details: I Got My Dream Job! – Working in Antarctica How do you get down to the South Pole Station from the states? It’s a lonnnnnng journey. The basic route I took was: Commercial flights – DEN>SFO, SFO>LAX, LAX>SYD, SYD>CHC. US AirForce Military Flights – CHC>McMurdo, McMurdo>South Pole. And coming back it’s just the opposite. Here are photos from the journey down: Are only U.S.

citizens allowed to work at Amundsen-Scott Station? Nope, we have people from all over the world working here! How long is summer season? Is it different at the different stations? Summer Season is about three months, from November 15th to February 15th. During the summer, we have about 160 people living here, the temperature is around -18F, and the sun shines 24/7. During the winter, which is Feb 15th to Nov 15th, 50 people live here, the temperature gets down to -100F, and it is dark all the time. What is your job at the Station? Do you enjoy it? My official job here is as the breakfast cook – that means that I’m solely responsible for making breakfast for the entire station, 6 days a week. In addition to my “official” job, I also have a number of other positions here. I’m a certified W-EMT, and so I work on the South Pole’s “Team 4”, which is the emergency medical response team. If there’s a mass casualty incident here, I’m on the team that responds to it.

In addition to Cook and EMS responder, I’m also a tour guide. When expeditions and tourist groups arrive here at the south pole and want a tour of the station, I’m one of the people who can lead them around the station. Finally, I’m working as the south pole station correspondent for The Antarctic Sun , the NSF’s Antarctica news publication. What kind of meals are you making? Since I’m the breakfast cook, I singlehandedly make breakfast for 160+ people, every morning, 6 days a week. My usual breakfast consists of a number of dishes: Scrambled Eggs Cereal – oatmeal, 7-grain, grits Smoothie – fruit smoothie, frappuccino, horchata, chai And after I’m done making all of this in the 2 hours before breakfast service starts, I stand at the griddle and make eggs to order while breakfast is served. I usually make about 90-100 eggs per morning, usually over easy, over medium, scrambled, sunny, or “in a frame”. While I’m doing all of this, I also have to be prepping for the next morning’s meal.

I get to work at 03:30 and start cooking. Breakfast service is from 06:00-08:00. And then I have to be done with all of my breakfast cleanup, as well as complete prep for the next morning by 09:00. I take my first break from 09:00 – 09:30, and then I come back and work with the lunch lady to make lunch for everybody. I get out of work at 13:30, and then usually try to get to sleep around 20:00, so I can wake up at 03:00 the next morning and do it all over again. How many doctors are there? There’s only 1 doctor, and 1 nurse. I’m good friends with both of them, and they are both extremely knowledgeable and competent. Our doctor was the former Flight Surgeon for the International Space Station, and has worked in emergency medicine for many many years – his name is Dr. Sean Roden. Our medical facility is equipped to handle almost anything.

We have a trauma/surgery bay, a dental bay, a communications bay, a medical laboratory, and even two ward beds, for sick patients. It’s quite incredible how much capability we have packed in such a small space. We also have every kind of medical device you’d find in a basic modern hospital, including 12-lead EKG, Xray, suction, O2, etc. Finally, there’s a remote video system – so if there’s a situation in which we need an extra doctor’s opinion, we can get somebody “virtually” in the operating room. I’ll have photos of all of this soon. How much free time do you have? How can you spend it? Not enough! I work a 9 hour shift 6 days a week – from 3:30 – 13:30. After that, I try to go to the gym, and take time to tour around to various places on the station. I’m also training for the South Pole Marathon, so I try to run outside as much as I can. Finally, arrived at the South Pole. On the day I arrived, the temperature was -40 degrees – that first breath of air was cold! How is the food?

Do you have enough fresh fruit and vegetables? The food is actually not so bad. We try to be as creative as possible in the kitchen. All of our food has to be flown here, and it’s all stored at -60F in the supply arches, under the ice. We have a lot of food, but it’s all stored away in deep freeze. So anything we make must be able to use food that has been stored and frozen for a long time. Occasionally we get “freshies” – fresh food flown in from New Zealand. That includes fresh fruit and vegetables. There’s never as much as we want, though! Is it hard to fall asleep with the sun shining all the time? Nope, not really. My bedroom has a window on it, with a shade that blocks out some light. I taped cardboard over my window, so when the lights are off in my room, it’s completely dark. I have a small red light that I turn on at night, so I can turn off the bright overhead light and make it feel like night time when I’m in my room at night. It took a while to adjust, but nowadays I sleep just fine.

Actually, I’m usually so worn out at the end of each day that I fall asleep immediately. Do you know most of the people there? I guess everyone knows you because you’re giving out the food! I’m getting to know just about everybody – there are only 150 people, and we see each other every day, so you get to know each other quickly. Additionally, since we all eat in the same galley, we get to sit with each other. I usually try to sit with as many different groups as I can, so I get around to having conversations with everybody. The mirrored ball at the Ceremonial South Pole. This pole is only used for ceremonial purposes, and does not mark anything. Is it worth it to come down there? It’s definitely amazing being here, and I think if you’re feeling the urge to come check it out, it’s worth it. Even just the trip down here is worth it. I flew from DEN>SFO ,SFO>LAX on normal flights, then got to fly LAX>SYD on Quantas on an AIrbus A380 which is an incredible plane.

Then SYD>CHC on Emirates on a Boeing 777-300ER, which is also very very cool. Then got to spend time in Christchurch drinking with a bunch of scientists. Then a military flight on a C17, then bummed around McMurdo for a day, then to pole on a C-130 Hercules. Even just those flights are incredible in their own right, and the fact that I was getting paid pretty damn good money to do it was great. Then living down here at pole – the work is HARD for everybody, but the free time is incredible. Every second I’m outside walking around, i’m awestruck by this place. So, yes, come down here, it’s worth it – both for the external experience of it, and also for the experience of getting to know yourself as you put yourself through this intense experience. Where do you sleep? Do people share rooms or what? Nope, we each get our own rooms – they are small, but cozy and comfortable. Here’s a photo and details of my room. What time do you have to get up to make breakfast for everyone? What’s your schedule like?

I get up at 02:30 (and yes that is “AM”, although all of our timing here is 24 hour time, so nobody uses “AM” and “PM”), but that also means that I go to bed around 7, right after dinner. So I have a somewhat normal length day, it’s just shifted forward a bit. It’s a pain in the ass to get up so early, but it also means that I get off of my shift at 13:30 – while all of the scientists are still working. That allows me to go visit them, see what they’re up to. The down side is since I go to bed so early, I basically have no social life here – and believe it or not, there is a huge social scene. I hear there are tourists at the south pole too – what’s the deal? Regarding tourists – actually, we’re just starting to pick up on tourist season. I’m one of the 3 tour guides here on station, and I get to give one or two tours of the station per week, during high tourism season, which is now. The other day I gave a station tour to a “last degree” skiier with ANI.

This is the trip they were on: . These 4 people + guide on the tour are on a guided expedition with ANI, and each paid a decent amount to get flown to 89 degrees south, and then ski the last 60 nautical miles (1 degree). When they get here, they aren’t actually allowed within a certain radius of the station, because we are a “special use area” as per the antarctic treaty – they camp just outside the ring. Their camp is called the “NGO” camp – Non Governmental Organization – and it’s actually quite nice. Kinda interesting to chat with a bunch of crazy tourists for a few hours. Their DC-3 just landed a few minutes ago, and they’re taking off today. Pics of the NGO camp will be posted as soon as I can. Did I miss anything? Have any more questions or want to discuss? Contact me! Update 20130313 – Some more questions sent in by reader Almos Wattay: Which is the best job search website for the Amundsen-Scott positions? I am now using .

I’d suggest you look directly at the LMC ASC Site, as well as PAE, GHG, and GSC’s sites. Also find LMC’s Facebook Page Are there positions for Logistics and/or Supply Chain manager regularly? These two positions fall very close to my profession. Probably – look on PAE’s job site. Is there normally an overflow of candidates for any given position? Yes, almost always – LOTS of people apply for each position. Very strong competition. Are normal contracts for employment only for summer time or winter-over as well? Normal contracts are for summer, since there are more staff. However, there are full year contracts available for certain positions, and once you’ve done a summer, you can start thinking about doing a winter. What are the normal everyday shifts Monday through Saturday (six day work weeks, I know), 12-16 hours? My shift was 9 hours per day, 6 days per week. Shifts vary amongst job positions. Is appendectomy required prior to polar employment? I don’t now, that’s a good question for UTMB. It will all be addressed during your physical qualification process. Who finances the trip to Amundsen-Scott upon being hired?

The United States Antarctic Program, which receives funding from the National Science Foundation. What quantity of personal effects can be taken to the station? Two 50 lb bags per person, plus a small personal bag, i think. It’s all explained in your deployment packet once you get the job. Does the employee pay for subsistence (dorm, food, polar attire)? No I know showers can only be used 2 times per week for 2 minutes each. What about washing hands, brushing teeth, using the toilet regularly? That is unregulated, and personal hygiene is taken seriously – regular handwashing is strongly encouraged at the station. Additionally, there are instant hand sanitizer dispenses all over the place. We keep it clean! :) Is it possible to physically be outside during the winter-over period when temperatures fall to 80-100F below zero? Although I don’t yet have personal experience with winter, yes, I believe it is possible. Are you strictly limited as to what you can do on Sundays during your day off? What kind of recreational activities are allowed? I saw you jogging outside the base on YouTube, is something like that allowed? Yep, we go jogging, skiing, hiking, and everything else.

Lots to do, both inside and outside. There’s even a recreational cross country ski loop, complete with a warming hut at half way. Is regular internet access provided to communicate with immediate family members? Yes, this is addressed here . Is Amundsen-Scott station in New Zealand time zone? Yes Are you a winter-over employee? No Inside Captain RF Scott’s Discovery Hut, Hut Point, Antarctica In addition to USAP members, we also flew with a bit of the crew of New Zealand’s Scott Base, which is just over the hill from McMurdo on Ross Island. Pressure from the McMurdo Ice Shelf pushing the sea ice against the shore of Ross Island is so intense that it pushes the ridges of ice very high in the air – the formations are constantly changing, and always beautiful. The WAIS Divide, Antarctica DISC Drill crew in January, 2015. From left Rick Smouse (ASC), Otto Neumuth (ASC), Jim Koehler (IDDO), Mike Waszkiewics (IDDO), Jeffrey Donenfeld (IDDO), and Don Kirkpatrick (IDDO).

The US Coast Guard Cutter “Polar Star”, the world’s most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker, in port at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. A Bell 212 Twin Huey comes in to drop off a slingload of gear at McMurdo Station. Arrival at the WAIS Divide Field Camp, Antarctica. Mike descending into the borehole slot, tethered by a steel cable. Inside Captain RF Scott’s Discovery Hut, Hut Point, Antarctica Me outside of the central Galley tent at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide Field Camp. A map of key field camps and stations, with associated pictures. Toursts visit the south pole too. Although they are allowed in the elevated station for brief tours, they are restricted to camping out in the “NGO Camp” about a half mile away from the station. Adventure Network International runs the tourist camp. Abord the C17 flying Christchurch>McMurdo. People sit in conventional airplane seats, as well as on webbing seats along the walls. Additionally, my flight was carrying pallets of scientific equiptment and machinery. Outside the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.

This is the New Zealand office location of the United States Antarctic Program, and serves as the departure point to the main US Stations – McMurdo and Amundsen-Scott. Tents arranged on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet A lone Emperor Penguin glides across the frozen sea ice. Loading a dewar of liquid helium into the Dark Sector Laboratory. On the outer lap of the ob hill loop, cracks in the Ross Sea give way to lots of seals coming up onto the surface of the ice to warm up and relax. Chansawing the ice floor, to level it out in preparation for loading the winch reel, seen behind me. Rigging the levelwind for extraction from the winch pit. Each piece of gear was meticulously secured to be moved carefully. Testing snowmobiles – fun! Finally leaving the ice on an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. Read more about my experiences in Antarctica at and contact me at [email protected] . After a successful landing at field camp and quick briefing in the galley, first order of business was to get our tents and gear setup. In this picture, I’m sitting in our gear sled as we snowmobile to “Tent City”, on the edge of camp.

Everybody has their own tent, and it’s a blend of 4-season mountaineering tents, pointy “scott tents”, and dome-shaped “Arctic Oven” tents. The mirrored ball at the Ceremonial South Pole. This pole is only used for ceremonial purposes, and does not mark anything. Once airborne, free roaming around the airplane’s cargo bay is allowed. The view out the window, passing over the Transantarctic mountains, is beautiful. Flying north, the sea ice gradually melts away to reveal open ocean. Smouse posing on one of our snowmobiles. Seals on the Ross Sea ice Massive peaks of the Trans-Antarctic Mountains poke out of the polar ice cap. Beautiful. Walking back to WAIS DIvide Field Camp after a day working in teh drill arch. On days of low visibility, flags are the only way to tell which way to walk – and where the ground is. Another one of the many many forms of sea ice. Tent City is a short walk from the center of camp. The inside of the main drill arch. Overhead you can see the blue heavy crane. The yellow safety fences are surrounding the Winch Pit, which housed the main winch, level wind, and related machinery.

This winch pit leads into the borehole slot, which is about 40 feet deep, 40 feet long, 5 feet wide. Although the borehole is only a few inches in diameter, the slot must be long and wide to accomodate the swing room for the drill tower – it must pivot from vertical to horizontal in one motion. From front to back of the galley tent. You can see two “Preway” diesel fueled stoves on the left, with large water pots on the top. The stoves heat the tent, and some of the heat goes to keeping water hot, for hot water bottles, etc. While we’re in mid-flight, it’s ok to go visit the cockpit – super cool! Merlin Mah tests his ice fabric logging instrument. Upon landing at McMurdo, I’m shuttled to the station by this giant bus. I only stay at McMurdo for one night, before getting back on a flight to the South Pole. Outside of the comms tents, various antennas are setup, including VHF, HF, and Satellite. Main stage, with the Antarctic sun circling overhead Passing over the seasonally frozen southern ocean, with cracks forming in mid-summer.

The ice cover is absolutely beautiful, and takes on infinite forms. Me, walking through the inter-ridge trough. A delta, and Antarctic airport shuttle, essentially. Since the LC-130 is LOUD when it starts up, safety briefing takes place outside of the airplane. Oxygen masks are a bit different on this aircraft, and consist of a chemical oxygen generator coupled to a full-head hood. Much like an emergency fire escape hood. Inside Captain RF Scott’s Discovery Hut, Hut Point, Antarctica Exiting the main admin building at Scott Base with my nifty Betabrand Space Jacket. The crater left by a PETN disposal explosion. My tent, with Enerplex solar panel. Walking down the ramp to our drill arch during stormy ways was a bit like entering a frozen polar base. The ramp leading from the surface down to the arch door frequently got drifted in, requiring digging out by our bulldozer support crew. The SPIDER Polarimeter during the assembly and testing phase before being flown to 125,000 feet under a NASA Long Duration Balloon. The Golf Ball, which houses the GOES and Skynet satellite uplinks. These links provide voice and data access to the station.

The South Pole Telescope, which is able to look at the Cosmic Microwave Background, a remanant of the Big Bang. The greenhouse is not used in the summer, however in the winter it’s used to grow fresh food for the station staff to eat. Walking to work in the drill arch, visibility can vary. Preparing to leave Antarctica on an LC-130. Hiking across the ice shelf to the crash site of the Pegasus Going over the basics of setting up both our main tents, as well as the tents contained in deep field survival bags, which are supplied on aircraft and as backups at field camp. My name tag and program patch on my “Big Red” parka. Note I also added my Explorer’s Club members pin. U.S. South Pole Station | NSF - National Science Foundation Education and Outreach A century ago, on Dec. 14, 1911, the first man-made structure was erected at the Earth's southernmost point: a forlorn pyramidal tent left by Norwegian Roald Amundsen, testifying to his achievement as the first person in history to reach the South Pole. Briton Robert F. Scott, his rival for that honor, found it roughly a month later.

Scott and his party, who died returning from the Pole, were the last people to stand there for more than 40 years. In January of 2008, the National Science Foundation (NSF) dedicated a new research station at the geographic South Pole, the third successive U.S. station there since 1957. It bears the name of the two explorers. The dedication of the new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station officially ushered in a new support system for enormously complex telescopes; seismic instruments; a massive detector for elusive subatomic particles called neutrinos; an atmospheric observatory; and other large-scale scientific experiments. It culminated a multi-year modernization project, authorized by the U.S. Congress in the late 1990's, to replace a domed station built in the 1970's. —by Peter West The complexity of the new station is in stark contrast to Amundsen's flag-decked tent. Unlike its two predecessors, which eventually were buried by drifting snow, the new station is aerodynamically designed and elevated above the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet to allow blowing snow to drift beneath it.

It was designed and constructed so that it can be hydraulically raised to extend the station's useful life. It is capable of housing more than 100 people. Fuel and cargo storage, waste-management facilities, maintenance garages and power plant in the new station are located beneath the surface of the ice sheet. Housing, dining, recreation, administration, science and communications are located in the new building. As it has in its various incarnations for more than 50 years, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station sits at the Earth's axis, atop a continental ice sheet more than a mile thick that moves 30 feet every year. Perhaps the world's most remote research facility, it lies at the heart of a continent the size of the U.S. and Mexico combined that is cut off from the rest of the globe by a circulating Southern Ocean current. The station is an amazing feat of engineering, dedicated to advancing the farthest frontiers of science. —by Peter West Mouse over the image to see the full South Pole Station. South Pole Expeditions Then and Now: How Does Their Food and Gear Compare? South Pole Expeditions Then and Now: How Does Their Food and Gear Compare?

A new Antarctic expedition is retracing the 1911-1912 route of Captain Robert Scott. View Images Captain Robert Scott's South Pole team unloads supplies from the Terra Nova. Photograph by Herbert Ponting, National Geographic The plan: Four months, 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) on foot, in temperatures down to -58 Fahrenheit (-50 Celsius), along the same route to the South Pole that claimed the lives of British polar explorer Captain Robert Scott and his men more than a century ago. (Read "Race to the South Pole" in National Geographic magazine .) Related Content Strange Radio Bursts Seen Coming From a Galaxy Far, Far Away That's what British polar adventurer Ben Saunders and teammate Tarka L'Herpiniere are facing in an Antarctic journey that will take them from Scott's historic hut on Ross Island, over the Ross Ice Shelf, up the massive Beardmore Glacier, and across the freezing Polar Plateau. View Images If successful, the Scott Expedition , which launches this weekend, will become the longest unsupported human-powered journey in polar history. ( Follow the team's progress on their blog .) Polar travel has come a long way since Scott's day, of course.

For a start, he didn't have freeze-proof laptops, electrolyte drinks, or a mobile satellite hub. Here's how the gear and food of the two South Pole expeditions compare. Diet. The staple food of Scott's five-man party was pemmican, a mixture of dried beef and fat, to which water was added. Researchers have calculated that the team's rations, which also included pony meat and lots of biscuits, were 2,000 to 3,000 calories short of the daily intake necessary to keep up with the extreme physical demands. (See "Rare Pictures: Scott's South Pole Expedition, 100 Years Later." ) By contrast, Saunders and L'Herpiniere will consume almost 6,000 calories a day—a combined total of 1.3 million calories for the trip. The largely freeze-dried menu includes porridge and cream for breakfast, energy and protein bar snacks washed down with hot carbohydrate and electrolyte drinks, and chicken curry with added fat for dinner. Diet is the main difference between then and now, according to Saunders.

"We've invested many years of trial and testing into customizing a diet that will give us the sustenance we need to cover the full 1,800 miles," he said. Ian Stone , a researcher in polar history at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, U.K., described the new expedition as "a hellish prospect." And, he noted, since the trek won't have any support from others along the way, the pair can't accept so much as a cup of tea at the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South Pole research station , which now marks the South Pole, before they turn around. (Read a first-person account of visiting the South Pole .) Sleds and Weight. Saunders and L'Herpiniere will be hauling handmade carbon-fiber sleds with Kevlar bases. Lightweight yet tough enough to withstand banging into rock-solid ice, the sleds are specially designed so they can be shortened as the pair drops off supplies for the return trip. Though Scott had wooden sleds, the outward journey as far as the Polar Plateau involved a mixture of transport: motorized sledges, as well as ponies and dogs for hauling loads. In fact, Scott's expedition wasn't unsupported.

( See pictures of more modern Antarctic expeditions .) "They started off with a large number of men who gradually went back to base having pulled most of the heavy loads, so the actual Pole party didn't have as much to pull," polar historian Stone noted. Whereas Scott's South Pole team each dragged 200 pounds (91 kilograms), Saunders' and L'Herpiniere's sleds will start out carrying 440 pounds (200 kilograms) of weight. While benefiting from a century of innovation in polar equipment, "we're going to be hauling significantly heavier loads," Saunders said. The duo has gone to extreme lengths to reduce weight—cutting off clothing labels, replacing metal zip-pullers with nylon loops, trimming the corners off freeze-dried food packets, drilling holes in toothbrush handles, and so on. View Images Skis. The Scott Expedition will be using skis that are designed for competition ski mountaineering. Significantly lighter and shorter than touring skis typically used for polar environments, they're also extremely strong. The skis have been customized by adding a nylon skin to the undersides to provide extra traction for the heavy loads. Scott's team used wooden skis.

Well, four of the five did, as Stone pointed out. The fifth member, Henry Bowers, was a last-minute inclusion to the South Pole party, despite not having his skis with him. "The poor sod had to walk all the way from the top of the Beardmore Glacier to the South Pole and back," Stone said. Not that the others were very proficient on skis, unlike the Norwegian team, led by Roald Amundsen, which beat Scott to the South Pole by four weeks. "Amundsen's people were all consummate skiers," Stone added. Fortunately, so are Saunders and L'Herpiniere. Clothing. Saunders and L'Herpiniere will be protected by high-tech mountaineering clothing with outer fabrics that have been specially tailored for the Antarctic's dry environment. All water is frozen or falls as snow, so a rainproof membrane isn't needed, Saunders explained. Breathability, however, is crucial—pulling a 440-pound (200-kilogram) sled generates an awful lot of heat, even at -49 Fahrenheit (-45 Celsius), he said.

Scott's South Pole expedition was kitted out by Burberry, whose polar garments consisted of wool and cotton. Amundsen's team also wore natural fur. "If you see a picture of Amundsen's expedition, they all look very furry, but Scott's expedition looks as if they're about to climb some peak in the [English] Lake District," Stone observed. (Find out how Amundsen won the race to the South Pole , in his own words.) Communication. Once Scott's team was on the Polar Plateau, they were on their own with no means of communication. The story of their fateful journey was gleaned only after Scott's diary was retrieved from the tent in which the last survivors died. Saunders and L'Herpiniere will stay connected and provide regular updates (including photos and videos) using laptops connected to a mobile satellite hub. The ultralight laptops are modified so they have no moving parts and can cope with being repeatedly frozen to at least -40 Fahrenheit (-40 Celsius). (See pictures from the Amundsen and Scott expeditions .) Powered by portable solar panels that attach to the sleds or tent, the laptops also provide the luxury of watching pre-downloaded films in the evening.

"We've got a bit of a mix—everything from Breaking Bad to Love Actually," Saunders said. "It's hard to know exactly what you're going to be in the mood for before you leave, so we've catered for all eventualities." Comment on This Story

Question: Where would you find the Amundsen Scott Station?
Answer: The South Pole