Part 2/7:
Upon landing, reality set in with a stark reminder: no official airstrip or landing zone was available in such an unforgiving terrain, and the U.S. government had not authorized their presence. The radio conversations emphasized that their arrival was not backed by welcoming arms but rather an awkward truth—their expedition was unwelcome. Despite the anticipation, the team found themselves in an uncertain situation where they had successfully landed at the South Pole but faced challenges that were far from expected.