Antarctic explorers reach safety

A helicopter reached the explorers on an ice sheet

By Dominic Hughes in Antarctica

Two women explorers, the first to cross the Antarctic by foot, have finally arrived aboard their support ship after a 96-day trek that covered more than 2,800 kilometres (1,740 miles).

The arrival of adventurers Ann Bancroft of the United States and Liv Arnesen of Norway on board the ice ship Sir Hubert Wilkins was the cue for celebrations and reunions, not least between Liv and her husband.

For Ann Bancroft, finishing is the hardest part

The two explorers became the first women to traverse the continent when they descended the treacherous Shackleton Glacier last week.

But they were then marooned on the permanent ice shelf floating in the Ross Sea, waiting for enough wind so they could use sails to help them drag their 110kg sleds.

The wind failed to materialise, and so the decision was taken to call in a plane to help them complete the last 700 km of their journey.

But despite finding a suitable ice runway, it was still far from easy for the two women to finish their adventure. Once a Twin Otter ski plane had located them, the adventurers were then caught in a "white out", making a flying escape impossible.

Bitter-sweet ending

The two women camped on the ice for two days, before finally making it to an airbase near the US research centre at McMurdo Sound. Liv Arneson admitted that it was a hard decision to call in the plane.

Extreme cold did not deter them but lack of wind did

"Two days ago, we felt really blue because we really wanted to ski in here or sail in here, but it has sunk in and...it's good to be here," Arneson said.

The final stage of their journey was a short helicopter trip to the support ship Sir Hubert Wilkins, moored to an ice field near the famous Shackleton hut at Cape Royds.

For Ann Bancroft, the end of the expedition may be the hardest part.

"Finishing is a hard one for me. You spend so many years getting ready for this and then you have so many days of doing it and suddenly it's over and it's a little hard to let go," she said.

Educational project

Both women are former teachers and the expedition formed the basis for an educational programme followed by school pupils in 45 countries.

For Liv Arneson, this was particularly gratifying. After talking to children over the last few days, she said the project was definitely a success.

"I think that is the main reason I went on this expedition. It's a great joy really," she said.

The explorers now leave Antarctica bound for Australia and then the United States.

They go with mixed feelings: glad the expedition was a success, but sad to leave the continent that has been their home for the last 96 days.