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CNN Today

Explorers Become First Women to Cross Antarctica

Aired February 12, 2001 - 2:51 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: There's also some celebrating in Antarctica, where Ann Bancroft and Liv Arneson have achieved another first for women, crossing the icy continent on skis. That's something they've been dreaming about since they were 12 years old and that's something that CNN's Daryn Kagan has been following every step of the way of, and here's Daryn with the latest.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, Lou, and their journey is not over yet. But now that they've made history, they wanted to call in to CNN and share with our viewers who have been following their journey and share this little bit of history with our viewers.

Ann and Liv, are you with us?

ANN BANCROFT, EXPLORER: We are.

KAGAN: Congratulations on making history. Tell us about the moment that you realized you were past the Shackleton Glacier and onto the Ross Ice Shelf, and therefore knew that you had you crossed the land mass of Antarctica.

BANCROFT: Well, it's -- it was actually happened this morning and we got up after pitching our tent looking out over the Ross Ice Shelf, and what was wonderful, I think, given the theme of this trip in part is that there was a slight breeze this morning and we put up sails and we sailed onto the shelf and the breeze only lasted about 20 minutes to 30 minutes, and it was coming right off the Shackleton and give us that little push.

And it was -- you know, we've just been higher than a kite for the last couple of days because this has been so exciting for the two of us. Much more important than reaching a pole for us many weeks ago.

KAGAN: But I understand the last couple of days have not been easy.

BANCROFT: No.

(LAUGHTER)

BANCROFT: There has not been anything easy about the Shackleton Glacier. It has been one surprise after another. We have been literally zig-zagging our way down. Yesterday was very, very deep snow and just littered with crevices and so after a while, you just keep on plugging and when your poles go through or your legs go through, you know, your heart jumps and you just keep moving through and hope nothing stops you.

So, it was very exciting. It was very hard, and it was a glorious -- you know, it's such a gorgeous glacier and named for a man that has inspired us most of our lives, and so it was a privilege to be on it and we are very happy to be off it.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: So you've made history, but you're not there yet. Tell us about getting across this Ross Ice Shelf and the time frame that you're up against.

BANCROFT: Well, you know, you've been with us every step of the way with the time pressures at different junctures of this journey, and were on our final leg. We've crossed the land mass of Antarctica, and we're feeling really good about it and tomorrow we've to get back to work and we've got nine days to meet a boat that really cannot wait for us because of the ice coming back to Antarctica, surrounding Antarctica.

So, again, we're dependent upon the wind. We've got a little under 500 miles to cover, and as you know from being with us sort on this journey, we can't do that just by pulling as we did today on the shelf. Even though conditions are good, we've got to sail and we've got to sail a lot of miles just as we did trying to get to the pole.

So, you know, we're trying -- we try to live in the moment and feel good about the progress that we've made, and where we are on journey, but you're exactly right, we've still not finished what we've come to do.

KAGAN: So, not to be negative, but Ann, what happens if you don't make it all the way across the Ross Ice Shelf within the next nine days?

BANCROFT: Well, we still have our rescue service on stand-by, and you know, we haven't given that too much conversation, but they're still on the continent with a twin Otter airplane with skis on it to come fetch if we're either in trouble or can't meet our deadline. The boat also has a helicopter with about 100-mile range. So, we've got some options. But, of course, you know, our dream is to either pull or sail into McMurdo and do it our own steam.

KAGAN: Well, I know all of our viewers that have been tracking you through your phone calls here on CNN since November know that you guys stress the positive and that without that you wouldn't have been able to make the history that you've already been making. So, we're going to wish you well, continue to follow your journey, and look forward to another phone call on Wednesday.

BANCROFT: Well, thanks so much. We really appreciate the contact and the support.

BANCROFT: Ann Bancroft and Liv Arneson calling us by satellite phone, once again, from the middle of Antarctica.

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