Reached the Pole in time

With only a 30-minute window, Vegard Ulvang and Harald Dag Jølle finally reached the South Pole, just in time for the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen's expedition in 1911.

After a long trek on skis, Vegard Ulvang and Harald Dag Jølle finally made it to the South Pole, on Wednesday, while Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and other visitors celebrated the centennial of Amundsen’s expedition, and the duo made it just in time for the anniversary.

"It was a long trip," said Ulvang. "This can’t be compared to a ski trip back home."

Ulvang and Jølle’s departure was two weeks delayed due to poor weather. Since then, they have skied the 1,300 kilometers from the ice shelf that stretches across the Ross Sea in the West Antarctica and to the South Pole – with only two days of rest.

The centenieal expedition also included Jan Gunnar Winther and Stein P. Aasheim, who were flown into the South Pole a few days earlier, to make sure they would be present at the celebrations. The four reunited late Wednesday.

"We have had incredible experiences and I have had wonderful company," said Jølle.

Back in Oslo, King Harald unveiled a new South Pole monument at Bygdøynes Wednesday. He also opened the South Pole exhibition, which will be displayed at the Fram museum until the end of the year.

The new monument portrays the five adventurers that reached the South Pole 100 years ago – Roald Amundsen, Helmer Hanssen, Oscar Wisting, Olav Bjaaland, and Sverre Hassel – just a month before the British expedition, led by Captain Scott.

(Aftenposten/Press release)

Julie Ryland

Friday, 16 December 2011 08:13