Norwegian, American celebrate successful ski across Antarctic

OSLO - Norwegian Cecilie Skog and American Ryan Waters rested Friday after achieving the feat of skiing unassisted across the Antarctic.

“It was fantastic to arrive, you can’t describe it,” Skog told daily Dagbladet.

The duo skied some 1,800 km, starting from Berkner Island Nov 13 and arrived Thursday evening at the Ross Ice Shelf on the opposite edge of the continent.

The two relied only on their own physical strength and did not use kites, sails or other outside assistance.

Temperatures were at times as low as minus 45 degrees celsius. Along with 36-year-old Waters, she reached the South Pole Dec 31.

Skog told broadcaster NRK that she lost 15 kilos of weight while Waters lost between 20 and 25 kilos.

Skog, 35, said she had spent a lot of time thinking about her late husband Rolf Bae, who died in August 2008 while climbing K2, the world’s second highest mountain.

“He has been with me. I have always wanted to do this expedition and I have done it in his spirit,” Skog told Dagbladet, saying Bae had taught and inspired her.

During the expedition Skog broke a tooth which she had to file down, so now she has an “odd smile,” she told NRK.

Skog, a registered nurse, is from Alesund, western Norway. She has also climbed the highest peaks on all seven continents.