Antarctic explorers approach important milestone

January 16, 2001
Web posted at: 11:17 AM EST (1617 GMT)

	VIDEO
CNN's Daryn Kagan speaks with the female trekkers about their progress Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

(CNN) -- Polar explorers Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft are quickly approaching the South Pole and could possibly be there as early as Tuesday. The South Pole will mark the first big milestone in the their 2,400-mile trek across Antarctica.

Making the journey even more difficult, the two women are each pulling a 250-pound (112-kilogram), supply laden sled across the frozen continent. They have endured temperatures averaging 30 below zero, winds gusting up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour and several days of whiteout conditions.

Bancroft, of the United States, and Arnesen, of Norway, are striving to reach the South Pole by Tuesday, more than 3 weeks behind their original projected arrival date of December 25. The delay has been blamed on bad weather conditions as well and the lack of wind the explorers use to help propel them across the ice.

Bancroft estimates that they are only about 60 miles away from the South Pole.

The explorers took a short break on Monday to speak with CNN anchor Daryn Kagan about how the record-breaking expedition is coming along.

Click on the link at the right to view the interview.

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