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.

Looking Up (Day 11)

Posted November 4th 2013,
by Ben Saunders

Category: Expedition, The Ross Ice Shelf (Outbound)

Day 11: S78° 31' 57.9", E168° 28' 24.72"

Duration: 7 Hr

Daily distance: 10.2 Mi

Distance to go: 1721 Mi

Temperature: -26 °C

Wind chill: -30 °C

Altitude: 289 Ft

We cranked out 16.4km (10.2miles) today, which we're pretty happy with, and I can tell you that dragging two-and-a-half times your body weight for seven hours is a bit of a workout.

Apologies if we're mixing metric and imperial units on the site - our expedition manager, Andy Ward, is still stuck on the opposite side of Antarctica at Union Glacier, waiting for a flight home, and once he's online back in Chile it'll all be straightened out. Ditto our film maker, Tem, who's also waiting for the same weather window to fly back to civilisation. Once he's back in the land of broadband and wifi he'll be able to edit and upload some of the HD video we've sent back from the tent.

It felt colder than the numbers suggested (-26C ambient, -30C windchill) though thankfully the wind stayed at our backs all day.

The surface today was quite different: hard and wind-scoured, with a lot of sastrugi - wind-blown ridges in the snow - for the latter two thirds of the day. I actually quite enjoyed navigating through these, which reminded me of trying to find the best course over pack ice on the Arctic Ocean.

We spotted something odd-looking on our bearing this morning, alone on the Ice Shelf not far from Minna Bluff. I thought it was a flag at first, or a very lost penguin, but it turned out to be an automatic weather station belonging to the University of Wisconsin. They'll be pleased to hear it was whirring busily away in the wind. More of the same tomorrow, and I promise I'll get back answering questions again...

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Comments

# Nora Wolfe, November 5th 2013

Mal, many years ago, PBS did a mini-series on Scott’s expeditions. It was a great production. It might have been a Masterpiece theatre piece. Thinking of it, brings home what Richard Pierce said above about the burial sites of Scott and party. This is really serious stuff. I am so happy to be along for this ride but I am also anxious. Be safe.

# Matt Godfrey, November 5th 2013

Is it true that consuming more than 6000 calories per day is around a persons limit. Anything else would just become waste regardless of output??
Seem to recall that coming from mr fogel and cracknell on their slog down south.
Keep up the excellent work guys!
Cheers
Matt

# Scott Expedition Team (Chessie), November 5th 2013

Hi Matt, I believe so - but will double check for you.

# Ian, November 5th 2013

11 days already. So quick. Enjoy, it may seem like a long time but if it’s 110 to 120 days give or take they are going fast. Soon enough and you’ll be looking back so breath in every moment.

# Grade 5 Green Class, TCS, SJ NB Canada , November 5th 2013

We would like to know what food item you could not live without on your expedition.
We are making lists and packing ourselves for our own expedition this week.
(on site school activity)

# Jen West's Montessori Elementary classroom, November 5th 2013

Some of the 6 to 9 year old students wanted to know if you eat snow?  They like that you are trying to walk to the South Pole and back.  You are very brave and amazing. Jamie 8 years old wants to know if you think you can do it?
Sam 6 years old, wants Ben to know that there is a Ben here at the school.
Do you talk to your families often?  How do you communicate to them?
Sydney 8 years old, wants to know if you are scared at times?  Marcus 8 years old, wants to know how you go to the bathroom?
Paul age 6, wants to know what do you eat? 
Miina wants to know if you have any toys to keep you busy?
Do you drink cocoa?
Do you see any animals?
What do you use to keep yourselves warm at night?
Do you wash yourselves?
We think you’re GREAT!

# Scott Expedition Team, November 20th 2013

Ben and Tarka eat almost 6,000 calories daily through a high-calorie diet of freeze-dried food made with melted snow, hot energy drinks, energy bars and a treat or two including chocolate. Here’s a video with more about what they eat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FEhg_I1ZmU&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLUAuh5Ht8DS266bwmWJZ5isWPhSEbsP-U They .have cosy sleeping bags and thermals to keep them warm in the tent at night. Here’s another video with a bit more about their clothing and sleeping bags https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF2WXlS1WvA&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLUAuh5Ht8DS266bwmWJZ5isWPhSEbsP-U . They’ve seen four seals since they started but no other animals.

# Lana Crawford-Small, November 5th 2013

Hi, I’m Richard Crawford -small’s daughter and I’ve told teachers about your journey and they said that at school or home they will have a look at the website and I am very interested in your blogs , meet you when you get back.
Lana
Age 9

# Gherardo, November 5th 2013

Congratulations guys !

# Chris, November 5th 2013

Guys - it speaks volumes about modern quality of life that despite how clearly brutal the experience you are going through is, most of us here sitting on comfortable office chairs in warm rooms with plenty of food in reach are really jealous, and wish they could join you…

# Richard Pierce, November 5th 2013

Bang on! R

# Austin Duryea, November 6th 2013

Hey guys. Glad the weather is still good. What kind of boots are you wearing?

And also George, or the scott team,how do you follow him on Google Earth?

# George Chapman, November 6th 2013

Glad to see you got your answer on Google Earth thanks. #CaninesCashews. I really love Google Earth. And you can use it for a lot more then just following this expedition.

# George Chapman, November 6th 2013

Glad to see all is going well with you guys. I’m sure it is hard going and every day forward will be getting better. In another week you guys will be saying “This is not so hard”. I can image the view is just belong belief. I go to the ocean a lot and just look out to the horizon and it’s always so beautiful. I’m sure your view is even much better. Take care of yourself and stay warm.

Following you on FB and Google Earth from sunny Central Florida U.S.A. Todays temperature is 71ºF.

# George Chapman, November 6th 2013

For any of you who would like to see a live web cam feed from McMurdo Station which is near where this expedition began you can find it here.  http://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/mcmWebCam.cfm

McMurdo Station (77°51’S, 166°40’E), the main U.S. station in Antarctica, is a coastal station at the southern tip of Ross Island, about 3,864 km (2,415 miles) south of Christchurch, New Zealand, and 1,360 km (850 miles) north of the South Pole.

# Reinhold, November 6th 2013

Good job guys. Is there a link that further explains what gear you are using…...what type and brand of boots and bindings are you using? Best of luck!!!

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