Roald Amundsen was the first man to reach both poles: a very significant achievement considering the technology and knowledge available at the time. There are many aspects that both parties had to consider in preparing for the trip: an analysis of the weather conditions, terrain, type of terrain, flora and fauna and the route to be taken, as well as the logistics involved in packing necessary clothing, food, scientific and navigation equipment, and what to pack, as the type of transportation used is a crucial decision in exploration. Through the examination of his two expeditions to the South Pole and the North Pole – compared with Scott's failed attempt – we can identify the reasons for Amundsen's success, namely his ability to use the technologies best suited to his task. Although both explorers utilized technology to a high degree, it was Amundsen who, through his understanding of climate and conditions, made the right choices in selecting tools and techniques for the journey. It was specifically decisions made in three key categories that made the effort successful: transportation technology (and its effectiveness in Arctic climates), technologies employed to sustain life (including food, shelter, and clothing), and finally , navigation technologies. this made it possible to reach the pole itself. Through Scott's documentation of the voyage and preparations, it is known that he went to great lengths to build and procure myriad technologies and improvements for the expedition (Langner, 2). His main focus was the ship itself: it was built with both sail and steam to better navigate the narrow and treacherous stretches of w... and sometimes irrational decisions. Furthermore, contrasts are evident in the food and life-sustaining technologies of the two explorers. Amundsen once again demonstrated superior choice in technologies, which were more appropriate for the environment, sometimes opting for low-tech Inuit techniques and technologies. Scott, in his faith in English solutions, was much less able to cope with the effects of the climate. In conclusion, Amundsen demonstrated that he had planned the journey extraordinarily well, calculating all the minute details of a successful first expedition to the South Pole. Works Cited Amundsen, Roald. The South Pole. New York: New York University Press, 2001.Langner, Rainier. Scott and Amundsen. City: Haus Publishers Ltd, 2007.Scott, Robert. Scott's last expedition. City: Kessinger Editions, 2004.