New Zealander Peter Hillary, son of Everest conqueror Sir Edmund, and Australians Eric Phillips and Jon Muir, have been hauling their sleds loaded with food since leaving Scott Base in Antarctica on 4 November.

Captain Scott: Never returned

The three hope to cover the 1,000 km (600 mile) journey to the South Pole by Christmas Day.

The team are trying to recreate Scott's ill-fated 1911 expedition and ski nearly 1,875 miles from New Zealand's Antarctic Scott Base to the South Pole and back - with no outside assistance.

If successful, the trip will be the longest unsupported ice trek this century.

"We have had to endure temperatures as cold as minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit), a screaming blizzard which forced us into the tent for a day, and sastrugi (snow ridges on the ice) which have made our progress slower than expected," Peter Hillary said in a statement.

'A huge challenge'

The team have been using lightweight satellite phones to keep in contact with organisers and families.

The Australian team are banking on modern technology to see them through the adventure, which is expected to take about 100 days.

Sunday's update did not give the exact date on which the team passed the site where Scott died.

The three men take turns to do the cooking

Scott and his team of four men, who set out with ponies and sled-dogs, died of starvation and weakness only a few miles from a supply sump, and just days from the journey's end.

"We think a lot about Scott," Mr Phillips said.

"We feel very strongly that his group were a very committed party.

"Despite the advantages of modern technology that we have, the task ahead of us is still a huge challenge."

Forward planning

Each man is dragging a sled weighed down by more than 150 kgs of food, fuel and equipment.

The gear includes super-lightweight equipment and paraglider-style kites which held drag the party along.

They have also established two depots of food and cooking fuel, which the men plan to use on the return journey.

The team is still hopeful that they will reach the South Pole, but first have to traverse the crevasse-riddled Shackleton Glacier, which is thought to never have been crossed before.

Mr Hillary, who has also climbed Everest, also said mileage would be further improved when the Quadrifoil kites are unfurled.

With tail winds, the kites will allow the men to double their speed.