Posted: Feb 03, 2012 09:42 am EST (Angela Benavides) Belgians Dixie and Sam passed the 5,000km mark on their Antarctic tour. Last men on the ice, their future is brighter than that of the pioneers dying on their way back from the pole 100 years ago.
Dixie & Sam: 5,000km
In their 72nd day on the ice Wednesday, Dixie and Sam passed the 5,000km mark on their huge (longest kite-supported yet) Antarctic tour.
With a storm unfolding yesterday the men pitched tent to wait it out.
"They stopped when the wind had reached a speed of 50 km/hr," their home team stated. "They are tired and they are cold but they are good." To kill time, Dixie is taking Chinese lessons.
Another fierce wind 100 years ago
One hundred years ago on this day, the last men on Antarctica were marching their last steps.
Feb 2, 1912, Scott and his men faced strong southerly wind and steep terrain which forced them off their skis.
"All went well till, in trying to keep the track at the same time as my feet, on a very slippery surface, I came an awful 'purler' on my shoulder," Scott wrote later that day. "It is horribly sore to-night and another sick person added to our tent—three out of five injured, and the most troublesome surfaces to come. We shall be lucky if we get through without serious injury[...] Our bags are getting very wet and we ought to have more sleep."
Antarctica world (and sportsmanship) record: Aleks Gamme crosses finish line with Cas & Jonesy