The Shackleton Centenary Expedition Arrives at the South Pole by Ella Derbyshire

Nikon D80's

Here we see Henry Adams, Henry Worsley and Will Gow arriving at the South Pole on January 18, 2009. We have had quite a few long-distance skiers at the Pole this year, but these gentlemen stand out in several ways.

They have come from McMurdo Sound, on the New Zealand side of Antarctica, and not from Patriot Hills where most of the long-distance ski expeditions originate. They have crossed the Beardmore Glacier, following the route of the Nimord Expedition which Sir Ernest Shackleton with 3 companions took towards the Pole in 1908-09. That expedition 100 years ago stopped at 88 degrees, 23 minutes, or 97 geographical miles, north of the Pole. On January 18, the Shackleton Centenary Expedition arrived at the South Pole completing the journey that their ancestors started. They carried with them a brass compass that Ernest Shackleton carried so very close to the Pole in 1909.

These gentlemen have connections to Ernest Shackleton and the Nimrod Expedition. Henry Adams is the great-grandson of Jameson Adams who accompanied Shackleton on the quest for the Pole 100 years ago. Henry Worsley is a relative of Frank Worsley, the captain of the Endurance, a ship that was involved in another Shackleton adventure. Will Gow is the great-nephew of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

You can read more about the 2009 adventure at www.shackletoncentenary.org 
The 15 images of this panorama were photographed with a Nikon D 80 and Stitched with Autopano Pro.