86.80033 deg S, 54.45187 deg E
3151 meters above sea level
Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 23 to - 34 °C

We spent much of the day exploring alternatives for completion of the first traverse season. A US tractor traverse has been turned around on its way from South Pole to McMurdo Station, and arrived at South Pole late this evening. This traverse will stand-by at South Pole for a few days to assist us if we experience further break-downs on our last stretch. Due to the situation we have received permission to travel through the Clean Air Sector, a specially managed area in the vicinity of the South Pole, in order to shorten our remaining distance. It is clear that we can not pull all our equipment with the two operative vehicles and thus some equipment will have to be left at the current position. The two operative vehicles may or may not be able to make it all the way to South Pole from here, so we have to consider the risk of having our equipment at two or three different positions at the end of this season. Of course we want to avoid this.

- Jan-Gunnar

Photo: A typical Antarctic plateau view (Photo: Jan-Gunnar Winther)


This contribution is from the log of the Norwegian-US Scientific Traverse team, who are en route from Troll Station to South Pole Station. Much more information can be found at http://traverse.npolar.no.