On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, had led the first successful expedition to the south pole. Roald had began his expedition on August 9, 1910 in Kristiansand, with 4 others. Something known as the “Race to The South Pole” had incidentally come about. The thing was, that Robert Falcon Scott had also planned an expedition to the south pole at the same time. Amundsen was to try for the North Pole but changed his plans after he found out that Fredrick Cook and Robert Peary had claimed to have reached there, fearing he would be financially ruined and didn’t even tell his own crew until they were headed south and so set the scene for the “race”. On October 18, 1911 Amundsen set up camp at the Bay of Whales, before setting out for the south pole. The crew’s expert use of the skis and their mastery with sled dogs, made sure of there trouble free and rapid travels. On December 14, 1911 Amundsen, 33 days ahead of Scott reached the south pole. Scott arrived on January 17, 1912, disappointed to learn Amundsen had beaten him to it. Weak and fatigued from hunger, cold and exhaustion, Scott died on March 29, 1912. On January 25, 1912 Amundsen and his crew returned to the base camp. Amundsen’s success was celebrated worldwide. He received telegrams personally from King George V and the president Theodore Roosevelt. After his return he was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
