How did Amundsen beat Scott to the South Pole?

In December 1911 a Norwegian party reached the South Pole, and a month later five Britons arrived to find their flag already there. Roald Amundsen got there first by planning a different kind of journey.

He had not meant to go south at all. In September 1909 newspapers reported that Cook and Peary had each reached the North Pole, and Amundsen reasoned that, without the allure of capturing that pole, he would struggle to keep public interest or funding, so he turned to the South Pole instead. Then he chose his methods carefully. He did not understand British explorers' dislike of dogs, and he ordered 100 sledge dogs from North Greenland. His base at the Bay of Whales was 60 nautical miles closer to the Pole than Scott's, and he laid depots of food in advance so that the polar party would carry less. He knew scurvy was a danger, and planned seal meat for his men.

He was also willing to turn back. On a first attempt in September 1911 the cold reached −56 °C, and Amundsen said he would not risk men and dogs out of stubbornness. He left again on 19 October with five men, four sledges and 52 dogs, found his own route through the mountains, and reached the pole on 14 December. The round trip took 99 days, ten fewer than scheduled, and 11 of the 52 dogs came home. At a place he called the Butchers' Shop the party had killed dogs for food, and Amundsen recalled that the men had grown so fond of the dogs.

Scott's party spotted Amundsen's black flag about 15 miles from the pole, and reached it on 17 January 1912. Most polar historians accept that Amundsen's skills with ski and dogs, his familiarity with ice conditions, and his clear focus on a non-scientific expedition gave him considerable advantages.