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The pony whinnied as it walked through the deep snow. Robert F. Scott watched as it struggled to stay on its feet. It was winter in 1911. Scott was trying to reach the South Pole. He had already tried once. On that expedition, Scott and his team had come close. They didn't make it, though. This time, he was using ponies and fewer sled dogs. Maybe that would help.

Roald Amundsen had the same goal as Scott. He was leading another expedition. Both men wanted to be the first person to reach the South Pole. So it would be a race to the Pole!

Each man's team would travel more than 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles). One man would make it. The other would lose his life.

The teams planned their trip. Scott would take the same path he had used before. Amundsen would go through an unexplored area.

Each team set up supply stations along the paths they would take. They left food and fuel for heat at each station. That way they wouldn't have to carry all their supplies.

After setting up a supply station, disaster struck. Some of Scott's sled dogs fell into a crack in the ice.

Scott's team was able to pull most of the dogs out of the crack. But they couldn't reach two of them.

Scott ordered the team to drop a rope into the crack. He grabbed it and climbed down. He picked up the frightened dogs and rescued them.

Amundsen: Spring came. Amundsen felt ready. He and his team loaded the sleds. The dogs pulled the sleds. The men skied beside them.

One day, a howling blizzard roared across the ice. The team stayed calm. They set up their tents. They cooked a meal and fed the dogs.

Scott: Scott left his camp two weeks later. He hoped the ponies could survive in the cold.

Before long, Scott and his team were feeling the cold. Their wool clothes did not keep them warm. When the wool got wet, it took a long time to dry.

Amundsen: Weeks passed. Both the dogs and the men were hungry.

Now a large mountain of ice stood in their path. The dogs struggled to pull the sleds up the steep ice. They kept going.

Scott: Meanwhile, Scott's team got stuck in a blizzard. They waited inside their tent.

The storm lasted four days. The ponies did not survive it. Scott's team had to pull the sleds.

Amundsen: Amundsen's men had frostbite on their hands and feet. The dogs were very hungry. They even tried to eat a pair of boots.

Then one day, Amundsen checked his navigational instruments. He was standing at the South Pole. His team had won!

Scott: Scott and his men were sick and weak. Then one morning, Scott saw a flag left behind by Amundsen. He knew he had lost the race.

Scott's team had reached the Pole 34 days after Amundsen. They began the trip back. Then another blizzard struck. The team could not go on.

Months later, a rescue party found Scott's tent. He and his team had died of hunger and cold.

Today, Scott and Amundsen are still remembered. Their courage inspires others. Brave explorers willingly go on dangerous expeditions. They are making amazing discoveries.

Article by Michael E. Ruane.