Latest News
25.12.09
Eating Dogs
It's not like the old days. They now have pile and Pertex where they used to have wooly jumpers and tweed. They have dehydrated meals and protein shakes where once they relied on seal blubber and worse, as Helen (UK) describes in today's PodCast. We've got a voicemail in English and a special message for our Norwegian followers too.
Remember, these updates come in at the end of the day which means that tomorrow will be the Christmas Special. Make sure you log on!
Helen (UK)'s PodCast:
Link to Podcast
Helen's PodCast in writing:
"Hi it's Helen here ringing in, representing the UK, here in Antarctica. We're almost at 89 degrees South and it's Christmas Eve, certainly for myself back at home.
It reminded me today as I was skiing along thinking about Amundsen and Scott when they did this journey about 98 years ago and thinking they didn't have the sort of modern technology that we have today like sat phones for ringing through for our Christmas messages or the type of clothing that we've got that really protects us from the elements. We've had a pretty raw cold day today.
We do get reminded of Amundsen every day - there's a picture of his face is on our skis ironically. But the other thing of course is that thankfully we don't have to eat our dogs like Amundsen did or eat pemmican for our meals. So there are definitely better sides to our trip itself.
I am hoping to replicate something like this so in 2011 when it's our 100 year anniversary with one of my Norwegian colleagues Svante and we'll be bringing Norwegian and English young people's group to the South Pole to this last degree so that the last bit of the journey that we've got left now to do.
I always feel that when you take part in a trip like this you should be inspired to pass on something special about what you've learned about yourself and about places you've been to visit. So if you want more information on that if you want to follow what's going to be going on in 100 year anniversary, I'm sure there's going to be lots happening down here in Antarctica to mark Amundsen and Scott taking that first step into the great unknown and arriving at the South Pole for the very first time.
Of course they didn't know they got there by GPS or compasses we're using, it would have been by using sextants and it really was a step into the unknown. But thankfully for us we know where we're going, we're on our way and we're not far from the Pole now and we're really looking forward to Christmas and New Year celebrations over the next few days and when we get back home to see all our family and friends. It's a shame we're not with you but we'll be thinking about you over the next few hours.
That's all for now. Speak to you soon!"
Helen's Norwegian PodCast:
More Info on Scott, Amundsen and 100th Anniversary:
Not sure who this Amundsen chap is? Can't work out you should be celebrating Scott's anniversary? Here are some links for more info and a couple of expeditions marking the occasion:
- Roald Amundsen
- Robert Falcon Scott
- Newland: Website of Svante Strand (the Norwegian friend that Helen mentioned)
- Scott Antarctic Expedition
- 2012 Olympic 'Inspire' Project
Photo by Robert Hollingworth