Tracking
the Journey
-
Distance to go:
0 Mi
Distance
Ben and Tarka will cover 1800 miles starting from Scott's Terra Nova Hut at the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back to the coast again. That's equivalent to 69 back-to-back marathons hauling up to 200kg each (the weight of roughly two adult men) of kit and supplies necessary to survive.
Distances here are shown in statute miles.
48 Hours in McMurdo Sound (Day 1 - AM)
Day 1: S77° 38' 11.65", E166° 24' 30.24"
Duration: 0 Hr
Daily distance: 0 Mi
Distance to go: 1800 Mi
Temperature: -21 °C
Wind chill: -31 °C
Wind speed: 10 MPH
Altitude: 0 Ft
I'm typing this from our tent, pitched on a small, drifted patch of snow at the very shoreline of McMurdo Sound, only a few hundred metres away from Scott's Terra Nova hut. There's been more than one moment when I wasn't sure we'd make it here at all, and it's been an extraordinary couple of days.
Nothing could have prepared me for our landing at McMurdo's sea ice runway. Tarka and I were both exhausted before we'd even stepped off the plane. We'd spent 18 of the previous 48 hours in the air, aboard an unpressurised Basler (a modified 1948 DC3 ski plane), on a flight that started in Punta Arenas in Chile and touched down at King George Island, on the tip of the Antarctic peninsula, and at Union Glacier, an ice runway operated by ALE, before the final flight across the continent.
I'm used to starting expeditions at remote places but clambering down the Basler's stepladder on to the ice runway at McMurdo was like walking out into a deep-frozen Heathrow, with a bit of Hoth, the ice planet from The Empire Strikes Back, thrown in. There were several aircraft either taxiing or parked, and dozens of giant vehicles rumbling around; American monster trucks on balloon tyres, giant caterpillar tractors dragging sci-fi fuel bladders across the ice, bulldozers, snow scrapers, snow blowers, snow cats. A helicopter thudded and chopped overhead, and the soft whistle of the insistent Antarctic breeze was lost in a din of reverse beepers and revving diesels.
Getting from the sea ice runway to our starting point, Scott's hut at Cape Evans, took a bit of luck, a frustrating amount of effort skiing the wrong way (we haven't even started the expedition yet, and we had to walk away from the Pole to get here) and an ability to persevere even when the odds seemed insurmountable, which I suspect may become a recurring theme on this trip.
We're also utterly indebted to Peter McCarthy and his wonderful Antarctica New Zealand team at Scott Base, who have helped us navigate the political and logistical challenges of this unique part of the world. One of the ANZ team, Richie, unlocked the padlock on the small wooden door of Scott's Terra Nova hut for us yesterday. Stepping through that doorway is an experience I'll never forget, and I'll try to find some words to describe it tomorrow. For now, we're about to start our first day. It'll be a modest mileage as we were up until 2am last night seeing the hut (we're still on Chilean time, so it was early afternoon for the Kiwis) but at least we'll be heading the right way...
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Comments
# Kristoffer, October 25th 2013
“The future is in the lap of the gods; I can think of nothing left undone to deserve success.”
-Robert Falcon Scott, diary entry for 31 October 1911
# Alexandre, October 28th 2013
He should think twice.
# Noelle, October 25th 2013
Awesome! So glad you’ve finally made it to your starting point. I look forward to following your expedition. Stay safe and godspeed.
# Stephen Bryant , October 25th 2013
Well done lads look forward to following your progress stay safe and good luck
# Myles Gascoyne, October 25th 2013
And their off! Very well done really looking forward to your updates. Very best of luck.
# Nik, October 26th 2013
Amazing & awe inspiring. I will follow your adventure with interest from cosy north Surrey! Wishing you all the hard earned luck you’ll need to reach your goal.
# Sarah Ballinger, October 25th 2013
Epic! Safe journey.
# Dan Crowe, October 25th 2013
Good luck chaps, we’re all thinking of you. With a warm handshake, Dan
# Henry Worsley, October 25th 2013
Thanks for the phonecall Ben.
You’ll have no nagging regrets now that you have stood in the hut. So glad you made it.
Whatever the angst in getting there, by starting from where they started will drive you on during the darker days…which you’ll have, believe me !
To steal Rob Swan’s words - “keep ahead of the posse”.
# david millican, October 25th 2013
stay safe, best of luck, and hope it is an amazing journey for you all
# PJ, October 25th 2013
Safest of journeys. With warmest of thoughts from an excited follower!
# Robert, October 25th 2013
Best of luck, Ben! Hope you make it
# George Chapman, October 26th 2013
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. I’m glad you have begun and look forward to following your every step. Praying for the both of you.
# Daryl Cobabe, October 26th 2013
It is -51* C at The South Pole today . Cape Evans is so cool when I was in the hut there I took over 150 photos. I have worked at Palmer Station , Mcmurdo and The South Pole. I am enjoying your blog. Best of luck Praying for the both of you.
# Christopher Paré , October 26th 2013
Just finished watching your TED talk about your Arctic expedition. I’m looking forward to following you in this endeavor.
# Peter McCarthy, October 26th 2013
Hey Ben, great to see you guys underway! The motivation from the hut visit will surely compensate for the time it took to get out there. It was an honour to meet you and Tarka. While you’re toiling away for the 78 days that it took Scott to get to the Pole rest assured many at Scott Base will be following your epic journey with admiration and probably a pang of guilt as our summer season comfortably unfolds before us. Stay safe.
# George Chapman, October 26th 2013
Wishing you a good day. Following you on Google Earth.
# Nico, October 26th 2013
All the best to you both - this is such an amazing journey! It will be exciting to follow it from the comfort of my sofa with a mix of jealousy & “I’m glad it’s not me”.
# John Brain, October 26th 2013
Best of luck Ben and Co. Following you every minute of the way.
# Peter Taylor, October 26th 2013
Was there in the 1980s for the Footsteps of Scott expedition. Great to see you guys giving it a go.
# Alastair, October 26th 2013
Spectacularly envious!
# Janet Stanley, October 26th 2013
Great stuff! Think you guys are amazing…can only imagine how you must have felt walking into Scott’s hut! Stay safe & I look forward to future posts :)
# Matt Godfrey, October 26th 2013
That terra nova hut must have been quite an experience. Thats the reason your there, keep it in focus when the times are hard and I really do wish you both the very best of british luck!!!
I look forward to tracking your progress!
Matt
# Rob Swan, October 26th 2013
GREAT work Tarka and Ben .. one of the biggest steps taken to start on time .. WELL DONE .. steady as you go Rob Swan
# Harriet Walsh, October 26th 2013
So excited to be following your epic adventure! Thinking speedy & safe thoughts for you all the way there & back!
# Carolyn Bailey, October 26th 2013
All the very best to you both. I’m in the Guest Services team at Union so will be following your progress avidly and passing on news to other clients in camp. Hope to see you at the end!
# Alex age 9, October 27th 2013
Very good luck have an amazing journey following you all the way
# Peter McCarthy, October 28th 2013
Hi Ben, have secured package. No worries this end. Take care and smile - you’re living the dream. Cheers, Peter
# Falcon Scott (Grandson), October 28th 2013
Now you’ve seen in the Hut, and touched the ice at Cape Evans, the spirit of Con Scott and of Ted Wilson will be with you. Enjoy the environs of Mcmurdo Sound, and the Trans-Antarctics, and good luck with the whole journey. Cheers, Falcon
# Katy Colman, October 28th 2013
Good luck to you both and the team back at base - enjoy the experience and the journey.
# Audrey Alamo, October 28th 2013
New Braunfels Unicorns are so excited for your success! We just read the story of Amundsen and Scott’s race to the pole, and then caught up with your blogs. Next, students are going to make a large map of Antarctica and track your steps! Thanks so much for sharing this amazing experience with us! We’re with you every step of the way! :)
# Alexandre, October 29th 2013
I wish you the best of luck, a safe journey and a great experience. Enjoy it!
# Alex, October 29th 2013
Best of luck guys and godspeed!
# Michael Lee, October 30th 2013
Hey Ben and Tarka,
Awesome to see you guys finally get started. Keep up the good work! We’re all cheering you two on from Scott Base!