Tracking
the Journey
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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.
It’s Never Easy (Day 5)
Day 5: S77° 56' 1.44", E168° 04' 20.46"
Duration: 5 Hr
Daily distance: 3.5 Mi
Distance to go: 1763.8 Mi
Temperature: -36 °C
Wind chill: -45 °C
Wind speed: 10 MPH
Altitude: 128 Ft
I think Tarka and I may well be the two grumpiest men in Antarctica right now, if not the Southern Hemisphere. Today has been really challenging. We woke up to a very cold morning indeed and just making breakfast involved swapping and fixing a faulty fuel pump in our stove, during which process we both got really cold fingers, and I managed to knock over my bag of rehydrating granola, spilling hot milk and bits of cereal all over my sleeping mat. We sleep on doubled-up Ridgerests, so I was able -on all fours- to slurp up the food from the little valleys in the mat before it froze to my bed.
Once we'd got up and taken the tent down, the conditions were the worst we've had yet. The ambient temperature wasn't far off -40 when we set off, and our fingers, toes and faces all got a battering. Tarka's toes are still painful now.
The surface was hellish, and we struggled to cover much more than a kilometre each hour, despite experimenting with shuttling the sleds - both pulling one, then returning for the second. Whatever we tried, there was no speedy way of making progress, and despite giving our all for the time we were in our harnesses, our distance today feels pitiful.
The weather went bonkers in the afternoon, with a really strong wind picking up from the south (so strong that it was hard to stand up, and that it nearly blew away a snow shovel) and we decided to call it a day early in order to check Tarka's feet, to sort out our kit and to get a decent night's sleep.
We've switched from Chilean time to UTC so we've been strangely jet-lagged since the start.
We had freeze-dried chicken dhansak for dinner, which was one of today's few redeeming factors. We'll see what tomorrow has in store for us (weather-wise at least; I can tell you it's beef stew on the menu).
Comments
# Steve, October 30th 2013
Keep plugging away. I really envy you guys. Something that i would have loved to have been able to do. The whole Great Age of Antarctic Exploration fascinates me. I will be following you both all the way to your goal
# Austin Duryea, October 31st 2013
Keep on going no matter what gets in your way. Help Tarkas toes get Warmer. Stay safe and keep inspiring me like you always do.
# George Chapman, October 30th 2013
Sorry to hear you had a very trying day. Things will get better as you get use to the daily routine I hope. Hope you keep those feet warm. So glad your having time to keep us informed as you proceed. Following your every step via Google Earth from Lakeland Florida U.S.A
# Mark Carson, October 31st 2013
How are you following the trek on Google earth?
# Scott Expedition (Chessie), October 31st 2013
Hi Mark. Here’s a link to the tracking page on the website http://scottexpedition.com/tracking You c.an download the Google Earth files bottom left.
# rodney pattinson, October 30th 2013
well done press on still following
# bev jackson, October 30th 2013
Keep positive & stay as warm as you can! Have you got sails for the sledges with you?
# Scott Expedition Team (Chessie), November 11th 2013
Nope! More from Ben on why they aren’t using sails here http://scottexpedition.com/blog/one-week-in
# Tobias Mews, October 30th 2013
Chaps - you’re both as mad as a box of frogs, but I take my hat off to you!
Remember what I taught you in my advanced masterclass in ‘pulk pulling’. Get low, zip up your man suit, dig deep and pull!
Oh and the answer to my joke: ‘Because he was outstanding in his field’ Get it??!!!
Very much hope you’re getting these comments! Otherwise I’ll feel like a right plonker!
Stay strong!
T
# Tim L, October 30th 2013
It’s great to be able to follow your inspiring journey so closely. Here’s hoping for an improvement in the weather for you.
# danielle murdoch, October 30th 2013
Your five days in, everything is adjusting to the crazy extreme situation you are putting your self through. Just remember what your goal is and take it one day/hour at a time. We are all here supporting you!
# Marion Yau, October 30th 2013
Stay strong Ben and Tarka!
# Roy foreman, October 30th 2013
Each day I check my mail first then the BBC/news thats all changed now I check how you guys are doing. off now to have a nice lunch at brewerys Fare Llandudno
# Rod, October 30th 2013
Come on Saunders! Up and at them! PS weather in Cape Town a bit ropey too!
# Gunilla Lindh, October 30th 2013
“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”
- Keep the amazing (but slightly bonkers) work up guys. Ill buy you the best tasting beer you ever had when you get back to London :-)
# David Sweeney, October 30th 2013
I once saw Erik Weihenmayer give a talk and the part I remember most was his “Positive Pessimisms”. He explains it in the linked post below.
Here’s an excerpt:
“In the Khumbu Icefall, as Chris was halfway across his first ladder over a giant crevasse, he came out with the classic, “This ladder may be rickety…but at least it’s swingin’ in the breeze.”
http://www.touchthetop.com/blog/the-adversity-advantage-excerpt-2-511
# Sunny, October 30th 2013
You guys have guts, I admire you. Polar exploration has always fascinated me.
I remember my high Himalayan treks and the misery on the bad days, but at the end of it was a wonderful feeling of achievement.
Good luck from the Southern Ocean, there’s just this expanse of water that separates my ship from Antarctica.
# Lynne Bollard, October 30th 2013
You guys are amazing. I love history and am so thankful there are people like you who are brave and adventurous enough to retrace it. Will be praying for date travels as I follow you on this journey.
# Jon, October 30th 2013
Well done guys, I’m sure you are just adapting to the change from all those sponsor dinners and celebratory Pisco Sours in Punta and it will take time to acclimatise to those harsh conditions.
After all you are on A quite a few weeks earlier than most expeditions and with -40 at those latitudes you are feeling the tail end effects of Winter/Spring before the A summer makes herself known to you. I’m sure once the weather warms up to an average of -20, the snow will be easier to haul your baby elephants through, hell you may actually get some glide.
When you are at your lowest ebb, remember what Apsley said “Take it all in all, I do not believe anybody on Earth has it worse than an Emperor penguin.”
Jon
‘No easy thing in life is worth a damn’
# Al, October 30th 2013
I spent yesterday in a hell of Microsoft Word crashing, “tracking changes” on documents, and doing a lot of shouting at my computer.
Try each day to look around and pick one thing from it to be grateful for - you’re in a special place doing a special thing.
# Janet Stanley, October 30th 2013
Stay positive & safe…sorry you’ve had a tough day…makes you appreciate the good ones!! Take care :)
# jamehand, October 30th 2013
Classic boy’s own adventure stuff guys! Enjoying following the expedition immensely and looking forward to the golden age of polar exploration getting a new entry in its annals after your successful return!
# Rich Townsend, October 30th 2013
Keep your spirits up, guys!
Can you tell us a bit about your stove? It looks like it runs on white gas, but have you made any modifications to get it working in the cold weather?
# Scott Expedition Team (Chessie), November 11th 2013
The stove is an unmodified MSR XGK EX, though it’s on a custom-made carbon fibre stove board. The cooking pot is a Primus ETA with a modified MSR heat exchanger. The stove runs on Coleman fuel (white gas) and Ben and Tarka use MSR titanium fuel bottles. Pic from Ben here http://scottexpedition.com/blog/one-week-in
# Audrey Alamo, October 30th 2013
NB Unicorns holding you up, and sending all of our encouragement! Stay strong. The joy will come later, knowing that you accomplished something so huge! Keep your spirits high. We recently had a class discussion about the morale of Scott’s men, and how that must have had a huge affect on the final outcome of their expedition. Find strength where ever you can! Beef stew sounds awesome!
# Kristoffer, October 30th 2013
I am helping a friend of mine write a book about Captain Scott’s Terra Nova expedition, and he will have a interesting thing to say about the morale of the Scott party. That’s why I found your mentioning of your discussion of the morale of the expedition overall (?) to be interesting.
# Mrs. Alamo, October 30th 2013
@Kristoffer, thanks for thinking enough to comment on my post! I’ll be looking forward to your insight about Scott’s team’s morale. And, of course my students will be curious to hear as well.
Thanks again.
# Kristoffer, October 31st 2013
Thank you Mrs. Alamo.
The book is nearing completion, and with luck will be published next year. I’ve been helping my friend with the book by reviewing chapter drafts and researching side issues. Keep watching this site, and I’ll let you know when it’s released.
# Bailey F, October 30th 2013
We are all happy for you guys at the NINTH GRADE CENTER.
FROM YOUR MIGHTY UNICORNS BAND AND MIS. ALAMOs Class of 2017.
# Darryl Fulgham, October 30th 2013
Just keep your heads up and stay positive nothing in life that’s worth it never comes easy!
-NB Unicorns
# sarah, October 30th 2013
Ben and Tarka - keep your heads up - the beginning is always going to be tough - I log on every day to see your latest blog and keeps the “adverturer"flame inside me alive as I’m logging onto my laptop at work and opening the first of many spreadsheets for the day!
# Miss Wetzold's 5th Grade Class, October 30th 2013
If I were you, I would turn around and come back home. But,we hope you will keep going and be the first people to complete the journey. You are brave and courageous. We believe you can make it all the way there and back! We send you good luck and best wishes and warmth!
# Sussex House School, October 30th 2013
We’ve been reading your entries in assembly and we’re all very interested in your progress. Still hoping you’ll build us a snowman sometime.
# midge, October 30th 2013
there’s a macdonalds two ks to your left .
keep positive guys there are a lot of people here thinking about you.
keep well keep safe.
# Gord , October 30th 2013
Really enjoying reading about the adventure! Look forward to the daily posts and the excitement along the way.
And Ben - to answer your question yesterday regarding the pronunciation of Tryggve, I have a Norwegian sitting next to me in my office who happily informed me that it is pronounced like ‘Trugveh’ (with the u like the u in the French word Tu - not as in Two).
You might want to practice that a few times to help your face stay warm :)
G
# Christy, October 30th 2013
I found this blog 3 days ago and already I am utterly addicted!!! Your comment about slurrping up warm milk and and bits of granola from ‘tween ridges in yer ridgerest immediately flashed to mind the movie “Touching the Void” when all the frivolous mind clutter evaporates and what’s left is the present single moment of living/being/breathing, a reduction.
# Pete Casey, October 30th 2013
I don’t know -the lengths some people go to, to escape the British winter eh! :)
Good luck guys, hope the weather improves tomorrow and you also manage to eat your beef stew sitting up. Thanks for sharing the adventure.
# Sarah Fenwick, Expedition Psychologist, October 30th 2013
Hi guys, hope grumpiness isn’t letting your ‘dark sides’ get an outing ;-)
# Moshe from Israel, October 30th 2013
Chin up guys - as the Hebrew saying, all beginnings are hard ....it’ll get better!
# Bobby Saunders, October 30th 2013
I’m hesitant to state, “It’ll get easier,” because I understand what lay in wait ahead. Instead, I share with you both a mantra that I live by, which seems most appropriate: “Failure cannot cope with persistence!” Share your struggles here, with your supporters, and carry them not into the next day.
# Aidan Neill , October 30th 2013
Stay strong Ben…awesome achievement to be there. All the very best from a warm rectory grove! Aidan & Louise
# Bård Haug, October 30th 2013
Stay on guys! Good luck from Norway
# Mal Owen, October 31st 2013
Log in every night… You both look chirpy all things considering….... Better day ahead ‘After all, tomorrow is another day’
# Darcy, October 31st 2013
You guys can do it! You are an inspiration for achieving dreams!
# CaninesCashews, October 31st 2013
Hi guys, back from stormy Somerset to windy Welling.
Looks like you’re having a tough few days - best I can give you is William Arthur Ward, who said,“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.”
I’ve been following your efforts since 2008, and I know which one I’m betting on!
Thanks for the great updates guys - glad the tech is all working well.
Gav
# missie , November 4th 2013
what do you do with the rubbish from the food????
# Scott Expedition (Chessie), November 4th 2013
Hi Missie, Ben and Tarka will take their rubbish out with them.