This past Wednesday marked a very important milestone anniversary: it has been 100 years since
Roald Amundsen and his team of Norwegian explorers first made it to the South Pole. To commemorate this momentous achievement, a team of adventurers are setting out to make history by traversing the continent in record time. Oh, how the times have changed!
Breaking world records is never an easy feat, but in the rugged and unforgiving landscape of Antarctica, this three-man team certainly faces the challenge of a lifetime. The mission: to set a new Guinness World Record for reaching the
South Pole by beating the existing time of 2 days, 21 hours, and 21 minutes. This type of an effort requires huge investments in planning - the team has been gathering supplies and putting the final touches on their tricked-out ride for weeks. The group will certainly be traveling in style in the bright red Toyota Takoma that has been outfitted with solar panels and fuel-efficient converters to minimize environmental impacts. But, it's whats on the inside that really counts: they will have 6 onboard mini cameras, solid-state laptops, a high-tech internet connection, and countless other bells and whistles to document the conditions and share the journey with their devoted fans following their progress from around the world.
It's a far cry from Amundsen's two-month journey aided by modest supply posts and dog sleds, but the fast-track expedition shows that humanity still has both a need for exhilaration and a respect for the power of nature. Amundsen was one of the greatest explorers of his time, with dangerous expeditions to both poles and through the
Northwest Passage. Now that the world has been mapped a hundred times over, we must find newer and faster ways to experience and explore the thrilling dangers of the planet's extremes. If your adventurous side needs indulging, live vicariously through these thrill-seekers by following their progress through their
blog or on
twitter and
facebook.
This past Wednesday marked a very important milestone anniversary: it has been 100 years since Roald Amundsen and his team of Norwegian explorers first made it to the South Pole. To commemorate this momentous achievement, a team of adventurers are setting out to make history by traversing the continent in record time. Oh, how the times have changed! 
Breaking world records is never an easy feat, but in the rugged and unforgiving landscape of Antarctica, this three-man team certainly faces the challenge of a lifetime. The mission: to set a new Guinness World Record for reaching the South Pole by beating the existing time of 2 days, 21 hours, and 21 minutes. This type of an effort requires huge investments in planning - the team has been gathering supplies and putting the final touches on their tricked-out ride for weeks. The group will certainly be traveling in style in the bright red Toyota Takoma that has been outfitted with solar panels and fuel-efficient converters to minimize environmental impacts. But, it's whats on the inside that really counts: they will have 6 onboard mini cameras, solid-state laptops, a high-tech internet connection, and countless other bells and whistles to document the conditions and share the journey with their devoted fans following their progress from around the world.
It's a far cry from Amundsen's two-month journey aided by modest supply posts and dog sleds, but the fast-track expedition shows that humanity still has both a need for exhilaration and a respect for the power of nature. Amundsen was one of the greatest explorers of his time, with dangerous expeditions to both poles and through the Northwest Passage. Now that the world has been mapped a hundred times over, we must find newer and faster ways to experience and explore the thrilling dangers of the planet's extremes. If your adventurous side needs indulging, live vicariously through these thrill-seekers by following their progress through their blog or on twitter and facebook. 
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