Pioneering women near South Pole in Antarctic trek

January 9, 2001
Web posted at: 11:54 AM EST (1654 GMT)

	VIDEO
Ann Bancroft talks with CNN Monday morning about the progress of the expedition Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

(CNN) -- Polar explorers Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft are getting closer and closer to achieving what no women have before: a 2,400-mile trek across Antarctica.

Both of the women are pulling a 250-pound (112-kilogram), supply laden sled across the frozen continent and have been enduring temperatures averaging 30 below zero and winds gusting up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour. In addition, the two school teachers will eventually climb from sea level to 11,000 feet (3.3 kilometers).

Bancroft, of the United States, and Arnesen, of Norway, are striving to reach the South Pole by January 15. Despite several days of whiteout conditions, the explorers say the expedition is going as planned. CNN's Daryn Kagan interviewed Bancroft via satellite phone on Monday.

Click on the link at right to hear the interview and view images from their ongoing trek.

First female antarctic trekkers approach South Pole
January 3, 2001
Women begin historic trek across Antarctica
November 16, 2000
Norwegian woman to ski across icy continent
October 15, 2000
Large iceberg breaks free from Antarctica
September 29, 2000

See related sites about NATURE

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.