# Duncan, January 21st 2014

Good job Ben & Tarka. Keep on pushing.

# Intrepid, January 21st 2014

Reading your post today, a balling ball kerplunked down in my gut and the motion of emotions let loose, racing into words, “omg Tarka fell through! it was close! precariously close! the cracks, the holes, the abyss, how’d Tarka get out? and I thought the other day was close!....” 

Quite fascinating how words create pictures and how easily the picture then becomes created anew by the listener.  Etched in my mind is Tarka with his arms outstretched, a tightrope across two buildings, ski bindings holding, legs and skis dangling in the precipice. And then I can’t get beyond that; I’m stuck in gaps of inexperienced questions and answers… How long did Tarka have to hold this position? Do you guys wear emergency gear, something reachable in any predicament (could he even move his arms without falling further?), maybe a rope with a metal point jettisoned into the air and gravity anchoring it in the snow, becoming a rope to hold onto to pull out of the crevasse?  Did Tarka pull himself out? Would Ben’s weight hold close to edge where Tarka fell in?

After I relaxed again, knowing you are okay (there’s no indication in your post otherwise), I felt a great big excited happy! containing itself in me… so I let it go… outward… onward… wherever someone may need a huge hug of gratitude, a thankfulness for dealing with and surviving the odds, as well as for anyone who may need the momentary lift by the magnitude of affect happiness has.

With compliments to your writing Ben, and hoping you and Tarka have a smoother skiing day tomorrow, passing by the 400 miles to go…

# Rich&Ione;, January 21st 2014

We can stop holding our breath ( and tongues) now you are on the flat. We were aware, as we are sure you were, that Scott ‘s party all made it down the Beardmore and the first major mishap occurred in a crevasse at the end. After that their problems appeared to be largely logistics. Walk slowly and safely and keep the gps on. Hopefully we will see a restored Tarka at our daughter ‘s wedding party later this year. Regards to prince Harry if he is tuned in.

# Richard Pierce, January 21st 2014

Dear Ben, dear Tarka,

It gives me no pleasure at all to know I was right when I said the old man Beardmore would be too tempted to lash out at you with that poisonous tail of his right at the end. I am just glad and relieved that you made it safely through your own Devil’s Ballroom (as Amundsen called a part of the Heiberg Glacier on his way to the Pole). I suspect that getting out of those crevasses yet again depended on the superb teamwork you and Tarka have, and of which you more often than not modestly make no mention. As I’ve said before, you deserve Team of the Year for 2014, never mind individual honours. And as for the bangles bestowed on folk by politicians and establishment, who cares for them? The people have already voted for your recognition.

Glad to hear Prince Harry sent you a message; his words were extremely apt. He was kind enough to drop me a note when I sent him a copy of Dead Men before he did his South Pole trek. Although I am no Royalist, I acknowledge the expertise and knowledge of individuals in their own right, such as in this instance. I should also say that Princess Anne has done a huge amount of well-informed and incisive work on behalf of the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust which is currently working on the conservation of your ultimate destination, Scott’s Terra Nova Hut at Cape Evans (http://www.nzaht.org).

I sincerely hope that the remaining quarter of your journey goes well. I, along with all your followers (be they lurkers or commenters or Prince Harry pseudonymns), am willing you on towards the completion of your quest.

Take care, and God Speed.

R

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

# Phil Satoor, January 21st 2014

My heart was thumping a bit after reading about your encounter with the crevasses!

Look,if the comments we leave here are helpful to you, you’re welcome to every adjective, noun,
pronoun, verb, preposition, full-stop, comma, colon, semi-colon etc.

Another stunning photo by the way.

# Jon G, January 21st 2014

Spectacular news on all fronts…

I doubt I’m alone in still having every available digit crossed. I know it doesn’t compare, but the only time we get injured on family ski trips is on the last green run of the day. Take care.

And I hope you’ve got a garden party (at least) to look forward to.

Jon

# Tara Carlisle, January 21st 2014

Well put, Intrepid. I agree. A rollercoaster of emotions for people I’ve never met but feel a real connection with. Talked with caninescashews about the camaraderie we all seem to have formed and how great it would be to have some kind of meet-up/party when this incredible adventure is over. Know it’s doubtful but it would be brfilliant!
Prince Harry is so right. Ben and Tarka will be an inspiration for generations to come. I have sponsored a mile because they have had such a surprising impact on my days and my brain-space. I figured that it has easily been worth approximately a pound a day to be included in this momentous part of history. I am certain that my days will be a little emptier when the daily blogs have finished.
Stay safe and warm and feel the love!!!! !

# Uncle Pete, January 21st 2014

That sting in the tail, Beardmore’s way of reminding us just how hostile that environment is! No calling up Piste control, you survived on your skill and wits alone. I once had the misfortune of slipping down a crevasse up to my armpits and looking back into the Deep Blue Depths at the top of the Grande Motte. Fortunately it was not vertical and I was able to scramble out with relative ease. Our namesake on the original Scott expedition was not so fortunate and surely their sacrifice continues to serve as a warning against complacency.
We all share a collective sigh of relief after watching your progress hour by hour over the last few days for any hint of untoward delay in progress to the Ice Shelf, many of us mutely aware of the glacier’s reputation. Now safely there at last we wish you God Speed and safety back to Base, and extraction, in clement weather conditions.Well done and worthy of such Princely appraisal!

# Mal Owen, January 21st 2014

You must have felt wonderfully exhilarated and somewhat relieved to be off the Beardmore and back on safer ground…..a strange combination of emotions. Richard was right about the final kick of the match. What a scary time that last bit must have been for you both,  but the years of training paid off and those carnivorous crevasses were left hungry. Yesterday was a nerve-wracking day for your audience too, as you can see from our posts and we didn’t know what was happening ! I am looking forward at a later date, to hearing/reading in more detail about those scary, precarious moments and how the team coped..although I think Intrepid has come close! We are all so proud of your achievement so far and so very thankful to you for keeping us informed. It’s good to know Prince Harry has an encouraging armchair too.
Now let’s hope the weather is kind. Take care of yourselves on the Ice Shelf and keep those elbows and skis greased for the last and very important leg of this awe-inspiring journey….completion of the task set is most definitely within your grasp.

# CaninesCashews, January 21st 2014

Hi guys,

“It was a hairy hour or so…” I think there may be an element of understatement in today’s blog.
You managed to draw quite a few of us into commenting real time yesterday, as we watched the little red marker track across Google Earth on its way out of the Gateway.

I had thought earlier in this adventure that a real-time body/head mounted camera might be an option in a few years time in Antarctic expeditions. But I’m so glad you didn’t have anything so interactive, I don’t think my heart could have taken it. Particularly now we know about your unscheduled crevasse excursions! (If you pre-book those do you get them cheaper)

You definitely seem to have busted through a psychological (and physical) barrier now you are back on the ice shelf, and with a relatively straight line back to the Cape I hope for an easier time of it for you both.

What a wonderful surprise to get a message from Prince Harry, I can imagine there are some thrilled families at home too.

Onwards…
Stay safe.
Gav

# Damian Harris , January 21st 2014

Very glad to see you safely off the glacier without a major incident.
Let’s hope the Ross is kind to you on your last part of the journey.
Keep up the slog guys!