目的地――南极|南极点旅游到达目的地

　　The pony whinnied[马嘶] as it plunged[使陷入]through the deep snow. Robert F. Scott watched as the pony struggled to get its footing[立脚点]. It took great effort to pull its leg out of the snow, only to sink back in with the next step. Perhaps Scott had made a mistake by bringing so many ponies instead of sled dogs[雪橇犬]. The ponies were already having trouble.
　　It was winter in 1911. Scott hoped to be the first person to reach the South Pole. He had already tried once. On another expedition[探险队，远征], Scott and two team members had come close to the Pole, but had to turn back. Sled dogs had been little help on that trip. That’s why he chose ponies this time.
　　Two Men, One Goal
　　Scott wasn’t the only one trying to reach the South Pole. Roald Amundsen was there, too. He had lived near the North Pole. There, he learned how to train sled dogs and how to dress for cold weather.
　　Both men dreamed of reaching the South Pole first. They wanted the success for themselves and their countries. Scott was from England. Amundsen was from Norway.
　　So the trip to the South Pole would be a race! To reach their goal, they would travel more than 2,900 kilometers. They would suffer frostbite[冻伤], snow blindness, and starvation. In the end, only one man would be first. The other would lose his life.
　　Getting Ready
　　During winter, each team stayed at their separate camps. They planned and got ready for their trip to the Pole.
　　Each team decided to follow a different path. Scott planned to take the same one he had used earlier. Amundsen decided to go through an unmapped area.
　　With their routes[路线] selected, the explorers sent out teams to set up supply stations. They left food and fuel for heat at each one. This way, the explorers wouldn’t have to carry everything as they made their way to the Pole.
　　The food they packed was not the most tasty. Yet it gave them the energy they needed as they tried to reach their goal.
　　The Race Begins
　　Amundsen Finally, spring came. At last, Amundsen felt ready. He chose his four toughest men to go with him. Once they loaded[装载] the sleds, the dogs sped off. The men skied beside them.
　　Snow and bitter winds pushed against them. Wearing reindeer[驯鹿] furs kept the men warm. Sealskin boots kept their feet dry.
　　Amundsen and his men worked well as a team. One day, a howling[极度的，咆哮的] blizzard[暴风雪] roared[吼叫] across the ice. In less than an hour, the team calmly set up their tents, fixed a meal, and fed the dogs.
　　Scott Meanwhile, Scott was still in his camp. He finally set out two weeks after Amundsen. He still believed the ponies were hardier[能吃苦] than sled dogs. If the horses or dogs failed him, Scott planned to have his men pull the sleds themselves.
　　Shortly after setting out, Scott’s men were already feeling the cold. Their clothes were mostly made of wool. Once wet, they took a long time to dry. The men often complained[抱怨] of feeling damp[潮湿的] and cold.
　　Amundsen Weeks passed. Amundsen’s dogs were growing thin from all the hard work. The men were hungry, too. Some of them were getting frostbite on their fingers and toes.
　　Now, a large glacier[冰川] stood in their path. The tired dogs fought to pull the sleds up the steep[陡峭的] ice. They dug their claws deep into the ice to keep their footing. Each step was a struggle. They pressed on[奋力前进] for days.
　　Scott Scott and his men were falling farther behind. Another blizzard struck. The men knew it was too dangerous to lead the ponies through the storm. Scott and his men stayed in their tent to wait it out. Outside, the ponies sunk to their bellies in new, wet snow.
　　The storm lasted for four days. The ponies did not survive. Scott and his men had to pull their sleds themselves.
　　Amundsen Amundsen’s men were still hungry and suffering from frostbite. The dogs were eating anything left unguarded[没有防备的]. They even tried to eat a pair of boots!
　　Then one afternoon, Amundsen stopped the sleds. He checked his navigational[航行的] instruments[仪器]. Then he told his men that they were standing at the South Pole.
　　The men could not believe they were the first to reach the Pole. They marked the Pole with the flag of Norway. They left a tent with some supplies and a note for Scott.
　　Scott While Amundsen was at the Pole, Scott and his men continued to haul[拖曳] their sleds. They were growing sick and weak. Weeks passed.
　　One morning, Scott saw something in the distance. It was a flag that Amundsen had left behind as a marker. Scott’s heart sank. He knew he had lost the race.
　　His team reached the Pole 34 days after Amundsen. They were disappointed. They did not stay long. Scott and his team began the long march back. Each step was a struggle. A blizzard struck. They could not go on.
　　Recovery Mission
　　Months later, a rescue party found Scott’s tent. He and his teammates had died of starvation and extreme cold.
　　Throughout the expedition, Scott had kept a journal[日志]. In it, he wrote everything that had happened. Amundsen did the same.
　　We retell their story to inspire others. Their incredible journeys led to further study of this untamed[未被驯服的] part of the world. That journey continues. Today’s explorers go to the farthest reaches of our planet and beyond to make amazing discoveries.
　　马儿陷入深深的雪中，不断嘶鸣。罗伯特・F・斯科特看着马儿挣扎着站稳脚。它要花很大气力才能将腿从雪里抽出来，但下一步又要马上插回到雪里。斯科特带了很多马而不是雪橇犬，也许失策了。马匹已经出现问题。
　　这是1911年的冬天。斯科特希望成为第一个到达南极的人。他之前已经试过一次。在另一支探险队中， 斯科特和两名队员很接近南极，但不得不折返。雪橇犬在那次行程中没有发挥多大作用，所以这次他选择了马。
　　两个男人，一个目标
　　斯科特并不是唯一一个想到达南极的人。罗阿尔・阿蒙森也在那里。他一直生活在北极附近。在家乡，他学会了如何训练雪橇犬以及如何穿衣保暖以抵抗严寒。
　　两个人都梦想第一个到达南极。他们都希望为自己还有自己的祖国赢得胜利。斯科特来自英格兰，阿蒙森来自挪威。
　　于是，南极之旅变成了一场竞赛！要实现目标，他们要跋涉超过2900千米的路程。他们要忍受冻伤、雪盲和饥饿之苦。到最后，只有一个人会成为第一，另一个人则会失去性命。
　　做好准备
　　冬季，两队人都待在各自的营地里。他们为这趟极地之旅做好计划和准备。
　　他们决定采用不同的路线。斯科特计划采用上一次的路线，阿蒙森则决定穿越一片地图上未标明的地带。
　　选好路线后，探险家们派出队伍建立供应站。他们在每个供应站放置了食物和供热燃料。这样，探险家在去极地的途中就不必带上所有东西。
　　他们打包的食物算不上可口，不过能在其实现目标的过程中给他们提供能量。
　　竞赛开始
　　阿蒙森 春天终于来了。阿蒙森认为是时候了。他选了四名最吃苦耐劳的队员一同出发。他们一装好雪橇，狗儿就全速前进。人就在它们后面滑雪。
　　大雪和刺骨的寒风向他们袭来。他 们身上的驯鹿皮足以保暖，海豹皮靴则让他们的脚保持干爽。
　　阿蒙森和队员配合得很好。一天，一场暴风雪在冰上肆虐。团队在不到一小时内就镇静地筑起帐篷，做好一顿饭，还喂饱了狗。
　　斯科特 另一边厢，斯科特还在自己的营地里。落后阿蒙森两周后，他终于出发了。他依然认为马比雪橇犬更耐劳。如果马或狗未能达成他的希望，斯科特打算让队员去拉雪橇。
　　出发没多久，斯科特的队员已经感觉到那股寒冷。他们的衣服大多数是羊毛做的，一旦湿了就需要很长时间才能干。队员经常抱怨身体感觉又湿又冷。
　　阿蒙森 几周过去了。阿蒙森的狗因为艰苦的工作变得越来越瘦。人也很饿，有些人的手指和脚趾还冻伤了。
　　现在，一座大型冰川挡住了他们的去路。疲倦的狗儿奋力将雪橇拖上陡峭的冰面。它们要把爪子深深地插到冰里才能站稳。每一步都是挣扎。它们就这样赶了几天路。
　　斯科特 斯科特和队员远远落后。又一场暴风雪袭来。他们知道要带着马匹穿越风暴太危险，所以斯科特和队员留在 帐篷里等风雪结束。外面，马儿纷纷倒在刚下的湿雪当中。
　　风暴持续了四天。马儿无一幸存，斯科特和队员只好自己拉雪橇。
　　阿蒙森 阿蒙森的队员依然忍受着饥饿和冻伤之苦。一不留神，狗就会吃掉任何能吃的东西。它们甚至想吃掉一双靴子！
　　一个下午，阿蒙森停住雪橇。他查了一下导航仪器，然后告诉大家他们正站在南极。
　　他们不相信自己是最先到达南极点的人。他们用挪威国旗在极点做了标记，并留下了一顶帐篷，里面有一些补给和一张给斯科特的纸条。
　　斯科特 当阿蒙森站在南极点时，斯科特和队员还在拖着雪橇前进。他们都病了，而且很虚弱。几个星期又过去了。
　　一天早上，斯科特看到远方有些东西。那是阿蒙森留下来作为标记的旗帜。斯科特的心一下子沉了下去。他知道自己输掉了比赛。
　　他的队伍到达南极点，比阿蒙森落后了34天。他们失望极了。斯科特的队伍没有停留多久就开始了漫长的返程之旅。每一步都很艰难。又一场暴风雪到来，他们无法继续前进。
　　搜救任务
　　几个月之后，一队营救人员找到了斯科特的帐篷。他和队员都死于饥饿和极端寒冷。
　　在探险的整个过程中，斯科特一直写日志。他在上面写下了发生的一切。阿蒙森也一样。
　　我们不断讲述他们的故事，以兹启发后人。他们了不起的旅程让人们得以更深入地研究这片未知之地。旅程仍在继续。今天的探险家去到地球最偏远的地带，给我们带来惊人的发现。
　　Know More
　　罗阿尔・阿蒙森 (1872-1928)
　　挪威极地探险家罗尔德・阿蒙森是第一个到达南极点的人。他出生于奥斯陆附近的博尔格，曾在挪威海军服役。1903至1906年间，他第一次通过西北航道（从大西洋西北经北冰洋到太平洋）。随后，他打算探索北极。但在获悉弗雷德里克・库克（Frederick Cook）和罗伯特・皮尔里（Robert Peary）相继捷足先登后，他把目标转向南极。
　　1910年6月，阿蒙森和探险队队员乘坐“前进号”（Fram）从挪威出发，于次年1月到达南极大陆的鲸湾（Bay of Whales）。1911年10月19日，阿蒙森与四个同伴乘狗拉雪橇向南极进发，最终于12月14日到达。他们把一面挪威国旗插在南极点上，并在南极点设立了一个名为“极点之家”的营地。离开前，他们给斯科特留下了一封信――万一自己在回归途中遇到不幸，斯科特就可以向挪威国王报告他们胜利到达南极点的喜讯。
　　1926年，阿蒙森等十六人从挪威乘由航空工程师翁贝托・诺比尔（Umberto Nobile）设计的“挪威号”（Norge）飞艇到达阿拉斯加。这是人类第一次飞越北极上空。
　　两年后，当诺比尔乘坐飞艇 “意大利号”（Italia）进行第二次北极飞行时，探险队失踪。阿蒙森参加了前往寻找飞艇的搜救队。另外一支搜救队发现了飞艇和仍然活着的诺比尔。但是，阿蒙森与他的伙伴再也没有回来。
　　罗伯特・法尔肯・斯科特
　　(1868-1912)
　　英国皇家海军军官及著名南极探险家罗伯特・斯科特曾经领导过两次对南极的探险远征。
　　1912年1月17日，斯科特一行五人在第二次远征中到达了南极，但是发现阿蒙森已经先于他们到达南极。在沮丧的回程途中，斯科特与他的四位队员因为疲劳、饥饿及极端天气等问题纷纷身亡。他们死时还带着十多公斤的岩石标本以及阿蒙森探险队留在南极点的信。斯科特的部份遗物被回收，遗体则被保留在南极。
　　在他的死讯传来后，斯科特成为了英国的标志性英雄长达半个世纪，英国各处都能看见他的纪念雕像。
　　后人认为斯科特的失败除天气的原因外还有他自己犯的错误。比如他不用极地犬，一开始就用西伯利亚小马。此外他没有利用极地人的经验，阿蒙森的探险队中的人都有丰富的极地经验。不过即便犯下这些失误，斯科特仍被认为是人类极地探险史上一名悲剧性的英雄人物。
　　今天位于南地极的阿蒙森-斯科特站正是以这两名竞争者命名的。