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.

Back in the Saddle (Day 71)

Posted January 3rd 2014,
by Ben Saunders

Category: Expedition, The Return Journey

Day 71: S88° 03' 14.04", E159° 10' 0.54"

Duration: 4 Hr

Daily distance: 9 Mi

Distance to go: 763.7 Mi

Temperature: -20 °C

Wind chill: -30 °C

Altitude: 10066 Ft

A modest day for us today (we slept for ten hours and skied for four hours after a pretty lazy start) and a correspondingly short update this evening as I'm on snow-melting and cooking duty.

Only now, after a lot of sleep and a lot of food, are we starting to realise quite how depleted we were a few days ago. It's still pretty fresh outside (-30 degrees C. windchill all day today) but our ability to generate heat and to carry out basic tasks outside in thin gloves (like zipping up salopettes after venturing out for a poo with a view) has increased dramatically, and I woke up warm this morning instead of feeling chilled and miserable.

Interestingly, Tarka and I have both gone from being almost unable to hold a train of thought, other than willing ourselves to carry on (and being haunted by food fantasies and cravings) to being able to daydream away the four hours we travelled today in relative happiness.

We'll do a full day tomorrow and should finish slap bang at the last depot we left, which is 21 miles (34km) away from where we're camped this evening. We were tantalisingly close to reaching it before we called for the resupply, but the more we reflect on things, the more I'm convinced the decision was the right and responsible thing to do, and even if we'd reached it on the verge of collapse, I'm not sure we'd have recovered at all before starting our descent of the Beardmore, a 180km stretch of technical, crevassed glacier where we have almost no chance of being reached by aircraft if we'd got into trouble.

We'll pick up our Pilot at the depot (our satellite antenna that allows to get online at far higher speeds than the phone we're using at the moment*) so we'll be able to read and respond to some of you then, but I know we received an overwhelming number of comments yesterday, and Tarka and I are really grateful for the support you're giving us.

You'll be glad to hear his thumbs are on the mend, and we're indebted to our doctor, Rob Conway, for his advice. A special mention also goes to Tony Haile for the best video message yet (Andy, my expedition manager, asked lots of friends and family to film short messages of support and we have them on the Ultrabook here, password-protected so Andy can drip-feed us motivation as and when we need it).

*To give you an idea of the difference, the heavily-compressed photos we're sending back by phone take about 25 minutes each to upload. In contrast, the Pilot sends a high-resolution photo in about a minute, and a 60-second HD video takes about six or seven minutes. We'll send a video back in the next few days...

Comments

# Allison & Mark, January 4th 2014

Yey…fantastic. My heart can’t stand much more of this. Keep safe lads and well done. You have courage beyond measure.

# Rich/Ione, January 4th 2014

By all accounts it sounds like Thumbs Up then. Keep on trucking - as the song goes.

# Richard Pierce, January 4th 2014

All this is good. Sensible tactics at this point. Good luck with reaching the depot, and then picking your way back down the Beardmore. So glad you’re still going, and going and well.

God Speed.

R

# Helena, January 4th 2014

Guys, we are with you! Friends from Brno, Czech Republic

# Hilary, January 4th 2014

Yay! Glad you’re feeling better. Shackleton’s team on their meagre rations used to dream about food too, spending all day making up recipes. Good luck with getting to the depot today! I’ll be following from the comfort of my armchair as usual (and refreshing the screen numerous times to track your current position)!

# Jennifer, January 4th 2014

So relieved to see you are recovering well!

No sane person would ever say you made the wrong decision by saving your lives,
which is merely what you did.

Stay strong.

# wonderwoman, January 4th 2014

So relieved to see you are getting better. It was a close save. We send you love from Finland and pray for you as we go mushing our huskyteams now.

# Jon Trusler, January 4th 2014

I was lucky enough to read about you guys on Facebook a week before you left.  Following you guys has been a constant reminder that there are people always out there pushing the limits.  One of my favorite authors Terry Goodkind wrote this great quote, “Deserve Victory"and I think you guys definitely are on the road to qualifying for that :)

# Shelly, January 4th 2014

Great to see both of you. I think that you deserved the rest. My best to both of you on the journey to and down the Beardmore.

# Sarah de la Fosse, January 4th 2014

inspirational!

# Debbie Browning, January 4th 2014

I have just read ‘resupply’ and am in tears. I have been following your indescribably brave journey and can’t tell you how inspirational you both are. Your message was beautiful in its honesty and depth and it gives us all a pause for thought on what life is all about . I have read of your wonderful friendship,quiet support,your courage, ambition, determination, survival and drive to embrace all that is human and experience the limits of our minds and bodies. That day when you needed the resupply and rest was a practical step along your journey and has enabled you to carry on. Reaching that low makes us all realise just how extreme the challenge is and how amazing you have been already. I think your fantastic and heads held high you will finish this epic journey exhilarated and no doubt will hold something so special in your hearts that only you and Tarka will ever understand and know that it was all worth it. One foot in front of the other xxxx

# Andrea TP, January 4th 2014

So glad to see your faces again, guys, and to know you’re feeling considerably better. And yes Ben, as so many have agreed the previous day, your decision was the right and responsible thing to do.
I will follow your journey through the Beardmore again and all the way back.
You deserve it.
My best wishes and cheers from Italy. Andrea.

# Johnny, January 4th 2014

Good call you guys!you could well have ended up the creek,having read dr mike stroud’s book(signed btw!☺️)I can only imagine how hellish it can be,take the very best care of yourselves and each other!keep going!you guys are in my thoughts J

# Michal, January 4th 2014

Take care my friend. I wish you all the best at your journey back . Best wishes and cheers from the Czech Republic (The Krkonose Mt.)

# Paul Bower (Downe Arms hotel), January 4th 2014

Well done, keep focused you are now on the return journey, the best way to view it. You have a big following here, keep it up!

# Norman, January 4th 2014

I have been following your logs intensively since before you started the journey. It is, of course, easy for me to have an opinion with the hot Spanish sun shining down over my shoulder, but I must say that I am so impressed with you guys and your tremendous effort. May your God guide and protect you safely on your homeward journey.

# Janet Stanley, January 4th 2014

Ben & Tarka,sooooo pleased to see this picture of you, it really gave my heart a lift. I must admit I was worried when a blog wasn’t posted also the mileage was down but to my mind this was very sensible in the situation you were in, gradually does it or rather pace yourself! Please take care.

# Chris Williams, January 4th 2014

Brilliant job gentlemen.  There has been absolutely nothing that in my mind would detract from the Herculean effort you gave both undertaken.  Bravo and Godspeed!

# Chris Holmes, January 4th 2014

So disappointed I only learned of your expedition after you had started your return leg but have been following your progress in awe.

Your journey doesn’t become any less inspirational just because you made the correct decision in unimaginable circumstances.

Wishing you the best of luck for the remainder of your trek!

# rod pattinson, January 4th 2014

well done keep going storms flooding in uk still following

# Dave, January 4th 2014

I’m sure I’m not the only one encouraged by the hopeful tone.  Step-by-step, depot-by-depot you’ll make it.  Good luck on the Beardmore and thanks for taking time to share your stories and feelings while meeting all challenges.

# Phil B, January 4th 2014

Just been catching up with yesterday’s blog entry. So pleased to see that you made the right decision. It must be amazing to feel what difference a bit of extra food can make and a huge insight into what mental perils the Scott and Shackleton parties would have faced. There’s enough people that have already done the math to show that you just physically have to have a certain amount each day to do the task you set yourselves. Getting back to Cape Evans is your task and it’ll be a huge success even if not quite in the way you originally hoped. Stay safe.

# Sanna, January 4th 2014

Greetings from the other end of the world!
It ´s not an easy trip to do!
You are fiting from you life every day!
Every Day!
Everybody here in this cold and dark country knows that!
Stay safe.
Sanna, still reading

# Darren Moore, January 4th 2014

Ben, Tarka,  You guys are absolute machines, the fact you had to call in for some food takes nothing at all away from this amazing journey…  A Tour de France is always won with the winner having at least one or two bad days… Really pleased you’re both back to full steam… the bike boys in London are so proud of what you’re both doing…

Almost there now…
Best, Darren

# Sabine, January 4th 2014

Léonie se demande ce que vous mangez tous les jours ? Elle vous félicite car vous êtes sur le chemin du retour et vous êtes très courageux ! Good Luck ...
Gros bisous
Sabine, Clémentine et Léonie

# Nick, January 4th 2014

I don’t know, but there must be a point where you get over the worst distance wise.  I think that point isn’t far away looking at what you’ve already done and the fact you’re heading in the right direction now and making good progress.  But the thing is, challenges like this are for a reason.  Like running or mountain climbing, sports or work of any kind, it’s all for a good reason, everyday work etc.  And without the long walk there, there would only be a long walk back.  That’s the mean tough thing about many a thing.  It’s all worth it in the end.  If you’re willing to do it in the first place - that’s the test of human and where people can or can’t.

# Bård Haug, January 4th 2014

Back in business, that’s great. What about blisters boys? Are your feet in good shape? What about the inside of your tights? Any skin rashes, as often seen (as a problem) on expeditions like this?

# Hilary Snaith, January 4th 2014

So glad to know that you’re both well, and to see both of you in the photo!  You humble any of us reading this even by being where you are and attempting your epic journey. Getting back home is so, so much more important than anything else.  Take good care as you go.

# Sue (and Noodle ), January 4th 2014

Phew, Now smiling.You guys make me love all that is good in this world of ours.No adjectives can describe the emotions you are putting us though. Excitement, pride, concern,elation,panic,chocolate and wine. Well hey ho, whats a girl to do.  My love to you both. x

# Sans Nom, January 4th 2014

Oh the relief! Beauty lies in the journey. Your decision was obviously the wise one. The contrary could have turned into a tragic case of vanity… Ironically, one might say that this transforms you from Scotts into Shackletons. Like him you chose reason over your initial goal, and you will stand taller for it.

# George Chapman, January 4th 2014

Glad to see you guys on the ice are doing well again. I think of you often during the day and follow you on Google Earth Facebook and Twitter. I pray you guys continue to monitor your health closely it’s important to all of us you get back home healthy and with no long term injuries. You have a very big following here nearly 260 comments and reply’s on yesterdays blog. Stay safe and warm and I’m wishing you a good day on the ice.

# CaninesCashews, January 4th 2014

Hi guys,
As Madonna would say (before she went all cupping & yoga) back into the groove - literally if you find your tracks. Well done - remember Einstein - “Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.”
Great stuff guys - stay safe.
Gav

# Uncle Pete, January 4th 2014

Well done to you and the Team - you seem (uk pm) to be getting pretty close to rendevous with your Pilot and stores now (sorry I got wrong camp in an earlier blog). Clearly you would have had real problems reaching them without your airdrop and also good decision to get restocked before the Beardmore, that will need all your strength and concentration. Check and double check and onward. I am deeply awed at the amazing support that you have garnered from around the globe, I think you have a book already written! Take strength from the messages of support (plus any actually useful tips!) to guide you safely on. Look forward to the continuing story…..

# Intrepid, January 6th 2014

I felt worried about them (a sense I had ever since they laid the depot they just picked up). But as of today,  I actually feel I don’t need to be worried about Ben and Tarka anymore. The expedition is in their hands and they are very capable of making decisions (as recently demonstrated) even under incredible strain to their system. They are aided and powered with high tech gear and a team of attentive people ready to act in a moments notice are watching over them.  I will continue to send both men positive thoughts, well wishes for their journey, as well as write.  You know what? I am grateful for being able to do all these things!

# George Chapman, January 4th 2014

For anyone interested if you want to see all comments from todays blog easily just use this link:  http://scottexpedition.com/blog/back-in-the-saddle/all This .makes it easier to get to the last post or if you just want to see them all at once. I just learned this little trick, some of you may have already know this. This will work on any days blog. Just look at the link at the top of the blog and add the word “all” to the end of the link. Just trying to help out here.

# AndreaTP, January 4th 2014

George, this is a fantastic hint. I ‘m going to re-read all yesterday’s comments as well.
Many thanks.
Andrea

# George Chapman, January 4th 2014

Your welcome Andrea. And in case you want to know you will be reading 327 of them. I did a search of the page and there were 327 entries.

# Richard Pierce, January 4th 2014

George,

That’s just grand. Thanks ever so much.

R

# Mal Owen, January 5th 2014

Thanks George… Useful :-)

# George Chapman, January 4th 2014

According to Google Earth it looks like the guys on the ice have traveled about 20 miles so far as of :3:00PM EST. That’s great seeing the guys back up and running again. Wishing them all the best.

# Andrea, January 5th 2014

Indeed, all the best. And the splendour’s views,  and the splendors of the ice on the calotte’s plateau or on glacier, and the splendour of passing through them and of staying with them all as walking along in their environment,non important that that exhaust the human beings. And wishing them all the lights, and all the ideas, and all the thoughts witch are perceiving and exposing and fulfiling and conquering the various exigent facets of nature there and the grades of her exigency she can demand to the human beings.

# richard h, January 4th 2014

Thank you for a great picture chaps, you look determined but tired - which comes as no surprise at this stage. I’ve been out and about today and repeatedly checking back to see if you’ve posted and its a relief to see this - and as iI type (2043 GMT) google earth shows you’re pretty much at the depot.

Your posts, as others have said, have, and continue to be, inspiring and instructive. You have opened up a world that I’d only really read about and watched on the TV (I nearly went out with the BAS many years ago - long story). The replies on the blog on the other hand have opened up a whole other world that didn’t exist to me not that long ago. I agree that it’s right for readers to respond and to ask questions, but and I also think that by posting in an almost live format you open yourselves up to a particularly modern day form of interrogation and even defamation that carries the risk of influencing the outcome of the expedition itself.

After a bit of googling I’ve sadly discovered that there appears to be a whole lot of handbags at dawn between historians,explorers, authors and academics that really should stay in its own ivory tower, leaving the rest of us to dream and be inspired to better things. I’ve a feeling ( well, I hope…) that you are wise enough to have foreseen this and I hope that right now you are either oblivious of the hot air that has been expressed yesterday or don’t give a flying f”“”.

Strength to you both guys, and respect all you dreamers out there :-)

# Richard Pierce, January 4th 2014

Dear Richard H,

Unfortunately, the Polar community is all too renowned for its handbags, and I’ve been on the receiving end of a few of them since I wrote my novel, despite reiterating again and again that “IT’S A NOVEL; IT’S GOT MADE-UP BITS IN IT!!“And yes, I was shouting.

I’m glad you have a sense of proportion and reality, and for that I appaud you.

Thank you.

R

# richard hellen, January 4th 2014

Richard Pierce

Thanks for the thanks, and I agree with you - lets stay grounded here. Seeing your entry raised a point. I have a surname (Hellen) and unlike some I’m happy to see it in print and attached to my comments - I’m not afraid. Thank you also to Lucy Scott for dropping a valuable nugget into one of her postings that helped fathom out some of the back story to some of the discussions.

The reason I , and probably many of the other followers read this blog is because of the possibility that we might be in Ben and Tarka’s boots. What would it be like? How would we feel? How would we, honestly, respond to their dilemmas? We can even live our lives for a while vicariously through them.

In a small way, we are all in their boots every day. Perhaps not in the antarctic, but maybe in our job, our climbing , our travelling, our sailing, our business. Daily, we all have to make decisions and to each of us those decisions have their own impact.

Imagination, dreams, novels, physical exercise, risk, adversity, dreams, can all be a route to finding our inner truth and stories like this are food for the soul.

# Intrepid, January 5th 2014

@ Richard Hellen @ Richard Pierce @ All

I’ve reached a point of consideration that puts the matter of blogging to rest. There are bloggers who choose to expose themselves to be influenced, allowing input from anywhere/anyone. At the polar extreme are posts that allow blogging inputs without responding and are therefore unaffected (at least by the bloggers). And then there’s all the in between. Blogging isn’t any different than any other kind of interaction, it’s just done virtually and in writing.

I’ve been commenting on this blog and do not expect to be replied to (by Ben and Tarka). I can admit that it is also really exciting to consider that I may say something that is responded to but certainly it’s never why I have written.  Blogging is a bit like unrequited love ... writing because it seems too important to go without writing. Other than the few posts asking questions about blogging, my posts are for encouragement, support, maybe inspiration, and simply for the guys to know people are following them, reading the posts, and enjoying what is shared. And for these reasons, I made the commitment to respond to Ben and Tarka’s daily posts.

# Richard Pierce, January 5th 2014

Richard, Kristoffer, Intrepid,

I didn’t mean to kick anything off here, and I’m always open to people disagreeing with me. I love the way you compare blogging (and responding to blogs, actually) as unrequited love, because that is really what it is.

I disagree with some of the things Kristoffer says, and with things said by others, but, as I have said before, I will always defend their right to say what they have to say. Perhaps it’s because I’m a thoroughly disorganised and lazy man that I never go back to check other people’s comments that I can’t quote back at them, but then I never really have the urge to (maybe I’;m just too self-interested).

The long and short of it is, in the case of this expedition, that I would love to be doing what Ben and Tarka are doing, and that I know I am in no shape or form (not mentally or physically) capable of doing it (probably because I’m a dissolute artist), but that I have stood at the edge of the Ross Sea and looked South, and felt the presence and heard the voices of all those who have been brave enough and strong enough to explore the depths of the continent which has captured my heart for all time. That’s why I wrote my novel, that’s why I comment here every day.

R

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Men-Richard-Pierce/dp/0715642960

# Intrepid, January 5th 2014

Richard - Thanks for your reply. I have a project on the horizon which involves listening to voices that are beheld by the land. How interesting you have approached your passion in a similar way!  Also, in regards to this particular blog, I am playing with image of birthing; as readers we are in the waiting room waiting for updates, respectful, available if needed, anxious to hear news, excited for what is coming ....

# Richard Pierce, January 5th 2014

Intrepid,

Now that sounds wildly interesting, the voices. My view of the Antarctic voices is in my novel, and many of the things experienced at Cape Evans by the main character are things that happened to me while I was there.

Birthing, re the blog; now that’s a novel take, and I get what you mean (specially being a father of four). It’s also like waiting for my 21-year-old to get in touch when he’s at uni because, no matter what our children’s ages, they’ll always be a worry to us. :-)

R

# Sharon Hartley, January 4th 2014

It’s wonderful to see you guys have re found your sense of humour and are able to remain in the saddle.

Your journey and your updates arr inspiring.

God speed with one foot in front of the other you will continue to drive yourselves homeward xx

# Justin Philips, January 4th 2014

Great news indeed! Keep it up! New question regarding resupplied food: Was it the same food you guys are carrying or is this different? If so what?

# Jane, January 4th 2014

I have been following your epic journey from Alberta, Canada, where we have also experienced this year wind chills up to -30 or more, so I can imagine how it must be for you both.  Great that you made the decision to resupply, I was quite concerned there for a moment when the blogs disappeared.  Keep trucking and I shall be following your journey to the end.

# Intrepid, January 5th 2014

Dear Ben and Tarka,

Glad to hear some strength has returned as well as Tarka’s thumbs are mending well!!  The photo looks as though something went flapping in the wind and scratched your face as well as the cold making some badly chapped lips… nothing to worry about ...

Hoping no aliens found your depot and it was right where you left it full of everything you need to make it to the next depot and over to Beardmore.

Looking forward to all your updates.

Godspeed!!

# Doug Neff, January 5th 2014

I’m so relieved to know you are both feeling stronger and making good decisions! Everyone that knows me has heard me tell your incredible story, and I felt a lump in my throat yesterday as I read your post. Please know we are with you both, with each step, and looking forward to your safe return.

# Sandra Price, January 5th 2014

My thoughts are with you daily and also with your families and friends who are living this adventure with you too.  They must be so relieved that you are safe.  You are truly inspiring.

# David Jensen, January 5th 2014

“I’m fed up with this wet weather in Epsom” I was thinking, when I then decided to catch up on a backlog of your blogs. They gave me a better perspective!!  As you should well know, your endurance, comraderie and good decision making will stand as taller testaments to the greatness men can achieve than mere matters of getting support or not, no matter how totemic that may have been at the outset. Ski on! David.

# Damian, January 6th 2014

Nice work gents, keep it going!

# Kate SCOTT, January 6th 2014

Go Benny go!!
You’re both doing a brill job!! Keep warm, keep safe & eat well. Big hugs to you both, kxx

# squeeze baines, January 24th 2014

Its one thing to possess a talent to write so movingly, and quite another to know when the time has arrived in life to make a huge dreaded decision and to get it right.  Your courage has given us all the chance to hope we might read more from your pen in years to come!  May the wind be on your backs.

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