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 ...

86.80033 deg S, 54.45187 deg E 3151 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 25 to - 35 °C Today we experienced a break-down of the transmission transfer-case on Chinook. This means that Chinook shares the same destiny as Sembla and is not operative anymore. Functional spare parts are unfortunately not available. Thus, we are not able to pull all our equipment to the South Pole without receiving support. Currently, we are exploring the possibilities to receive support from the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). - Jan-Gunnar Photo: Sastrugis – Nature’s beautiful creation (Photo: Jan-Gunnar Winther) This contribution is from the log of the Norwegian-US Scientific Traver...

13 Jan 2008 86.05767 deg S, 55.06667 deg E, 3251 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 25 to - 36 °C It was with mixed feelings that we finished the last science stop. On one hand, it was good to know that a very successful field program was completed. On the other hand, it was a bit sad to know that the field season comes to an end soon. After lunch we packed up. A lot of reorganization was needed since only three vehicles are operative now. After dinner we started out on our non-stop driving to the South Pole. All vehicles performed well and the spirits were once again high – “only” 600 km to go… - Jan-Gunnar Photo: Last night when all four vehicles were operative (Photo: Jan-Gunnar Winther)...

12 Jan 2008 3251 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 26 to - 36 °C We received a very pleasant visit of an international VIP-group this morning. This group is supported by Antarctic Logistics Expedition and led by a Swedish explorer. They landed at our traverse with a Twin Otter on their way to the Pole of Inaccessibility. The group consisted of VIP persons from Australia, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Russia, Scotland and Sweden. Later this afternoon the transmission transfer-case on Sembla broke. Since we have no spare parts Sembla will be placed on a sledge and riding ...

11 Jan 2008 3273 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 26 to - 38 °C Roald Amundsen left his spare tent at the South Pole after his visit there in December 1911. The father of Finn Ronne, whom one of our modules is named after, made this tent for Amundsen. The tent Amundsen used on his way back from the South Pole is exhibited at the Fram Museum at Bygdøy in Oslo. Most likely his spare tent is located under about 15 meters of snow. However, due to airdrops during the building of the first South Pole Station in 1957 there are many other items buried in the snow in this area. At the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Stockholm in 2005 the tent of Roald Amundsen was protected based on a proposal from USA and supported by consensus among ...

Written January 10, 2008 Position: , 3350 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 27 to - 32 °C For the first time in weeks, strong winds and blowing snow were with us all day. In these cold, dry snow conditions, it takes a wind speed of approximately 5 m/s (10 miles per hour) for the snow to start being transported by the wind. As the snow particles bounce and roll along the surface they are exposed to the dry air above and continually sublimate (go from solid ice to vapor) as they move along with the wind. The snow particles can be blown about 3 km (2 miles) before they sublimate/disappear completely. ...

9 Jan 2008 3425 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 26 to - 38 °C Lighter loads, good snow conditions and driving down hill over the last days combined with no technical problems led us to hope that we had left the differential breakdowns behind. But, that was not the case. This afternoon, the rear differential on Chinook broke down for the third time. The replacement started immediately – Kjetil and Einar went out in the cold winds of Antarctica to get us back on the road again as soon as possible. - Jan-Gunnar Photo: Unfortunately, this is how our sled...

8 Jan 2008 3463 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 24 to - 37 °C We are at about one fourth of the distance between the Pole of Inaccessibility and the South Pole. Here a short science stop was planned and the ice core drillings (totally 40 meters) and snow pit studies were accomplished in a very efficient manner. We are quite well “drilled” by now! In the evening, we watched a movie (again). We can not complain about the facilities – they are of a very high standard and appreciated by everyone. - Jan-Gunnar Photo: Our living/kitchen module – the ...

Expedition Diary January 7, 2008 3500 meters above sea level Maximum & Minimum temperatures: - 24 to - 35 °C Never a uniform white blanket on the ice sheet, the character of the surface snow takes on many different forms. On the microscale, different crystal forms tell stories of their arrival to the surface as gently falling snow, wind-battered hard pack, or deposition as surface hoar through condensation events. To a traverse train of vehicles, generous amounts of gently-fallen snow represent “snow swamps” in which the treads sink and dig their way in, sometimes preventing a vehic...

Written 6 January, 2008 3608 meters a.s.l. Maximum & Minimum temperatures: -29 to -35 °C Nearly all the way from Troll Station to the Pole of Inaccessibility we have driven along the crest of the continent. On this last leg towards the South Pole we have left the ridge and will gradually be descending to lower ground. This implies different patterns of winds and snow accumulation. We are starting to see the effects of this in the shape of rougher snow drifts and more sastrugi, so the ride is getting bumpier. However, there are positive side effects to this. One is that it is much easier for the drivers to...