Americans Within 100 Miles Of South Pole

Press, Volume C, Issue 29436, 11 February 1961, Page 12

Americans Within 100 Miles Of South Pole

The American scientific party which left McMurdo Sound in December for a 1200mile traverse to the South Pole is within 100 miles of its goal. The eight-man party led by Mr A. P. Crary, chief scientist of the United States Antarctic Research Programme, is expected to arrive at the South Pole on Monday. It will be the second American party to travel overland to the South Pale this season and the seventh party to reach the pole overland. A second scientific traverse party led by a well-known Antarctic glaciologist, Dr. C. R. Bentley, which, left the Byrd station in November, will also reach its objective, the Eights Coast, in two or three days. Both teams have travelled more than 1000 miles and have carried out extensive geological and glaciological research.

Regular seismic readings and meteorological work have also been done. Both parties are working for the University of Wisconsin, under a grant from the National Science Foundation, of which the United States Antarctic Research Programme is a branch.

Dr. Crary’s party initially followed a route pioneered by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1957, but since January has travelled on an indirect line in search of fresh seismic information.

Dr. Bentley’s team has followed a zig-zag course across the Ellsworth Highland and is now approaching the spot from which another American field party, led by Dr. J. C. Craddock, was flown out last month. After an inspection of the 3000 ft airstrip marked out on the ice by Dr. Craddock, Dr. Bentley and his party will fly by a Navy DC-3 plane to Byrd station.