![head of Ross MacPhee](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_495.png 115w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_990.png 115w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_1468.png 115w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_1980.png 115w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_2475.png 115w)
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![Beaten to the Pole](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/tothepole_t05_beaten/5898794-1-eng-US/tothepole_t05_beaten_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/tothepole_t05_beaten/5898794-1-eng-US/tothepole_t05_beaten_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/tothepole_t05_beaten/5898794-1-eng-US/tothepole_t05_beaten_full_1468.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/tothepole_t05_beaten/5898794-1-eng-US/tothepole_t05_beaten_full_1980.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/tothepole_t05_beaten/5898794-1-eng-US/tothepole_t05_beaten_full_2475.png 1200w)
![scrapbook page with photos of British team planting their flag and sitting in snow](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/pole_tothepole05_beaten/5928648-3-eng-US/pole_tothepole05_beaten_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/pole_tothepole05_beaten/5928648-3-eng-US/pole_tothepole05_beaten_full_990.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/pole_tothepole05_beaten/5928648-3-eng-US/pole_tothepole05_beaten_full_1468.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/pole_tothepole05_beaten/5928648-3-eng-US/pole_tothepole05_beaten_full_1980.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/pole_tothepole05_beaten/5928648-3-eng-US/pole_tothepole05_beaten_full_2475.jpg 926w)
![team coming across tent with Norwegian flag](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated/5936874-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated/5936874-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated/5936874-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated_full_1468.jpg 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated/5936874-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated_full_1980.jpg 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated/5936874-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten01_defeated_full_2475.jpg 1200w)
Defeated...
One day’s march from the Pole, the British team saw something in the distance. Their dreams were crushed—It was the tattered black flag planted by the Norwegians. “The worst has happened,” wrote Scott, “or nearly the worst.”
Scott’s team reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912—one month after Amundsen had gotten there.
![team of 5 men looking very worn out posing next to the British flag](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime/5936876-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime/5936876-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime/5936876-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime_full_1468.jpg 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime/5936876-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime_full_1980.jpg 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-03_tothepole/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime/5936876-1-eng-US/enlarge_tothepole_beaten02_notime_full_2475.jpg 1200w)
Top row: Oates, Scott, Evans Bottom row: Bowers, Wilson
No Time to Rest
The British explorers were hit hard. Still, they planted their flag and snapped photographs.
The five men were worn out. For weeks, they had hauled the heavy sleds themselves over hills and rough ice. But there was no time to waste. Now they had to race home against time—before the harsh winter struck.
“I am very sorry for my loyal companions,” wrote Scott. “Great God! This is an awful place.”
Image Credits:
Scott's team looking at flag, courtesy of the Library of Congress; Scott's team, courtesy of the Library of Congress.