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.
Making Hay While the Wind Blows (Day 67)
Day 67: S88° 38' 49.92", E158° 35' 1.32"
Duration: 10 Hr 30 Min
Daily distance: 23 Mi
Distance to go: 804.9 Mi
Temperature: -24 °C
Wind chill: -35 °C
Altitude: 10138 Ft
Today didn't have an auspicious start: it was cold in the night and we woke up to a dull light in the tent, which turned out to be an almost complete whiteout outside. It was my turn to have a bit of a sense of humour failure today, as my hands got painfully and worryingly cold as we took the tent down and didn't really warm up properly all morning. The clouds parted after a few hours and the wind died, lulling me into stripping down to just a thermal baselayer and my windproof Mountain Equipment jacket, which was fine until the temperature plummeted an hour later and the wind suddenly revved up.
My only choice was to remove the windproof jacket to add more layers, but this involved a) taking off my big warm mitts and freezing my hands again, and b) stripping down to my underwear -on my top half at least- in windchill well into the minus forties. I gritted my teeth and got changed, but my hands were near-useless as I tried to zip everything up and put my mitts back on again, and Tarka had to come to the rescue. I windmilled my arms furiously, forcing blood painfully back into my fingers but my core temperature wasn't really warm enough to sort everything out so I had to ski flat-out for a few minutes before repeating the arm windmill process again.
I'm happy to report this evening that all digits are still intact, and that the day improved once I'd finally warmed up; the wind was behind us and gave us a welcome shove north, and the surface got better all day, presumably due to the low temperatures. My mood did a complete one-eighty in the afternoon as well, going from hating this place and the self-inflicted pain I was going through to feeling so good that we skied long into the night, stopping to pitch the tent at 9.20pm. It is, therefore, another late night here in the tent, so I'll sign off by wishing you all a very happy new year. At this rate I suspect we'll sleep through it here.
P.S. GPS back up and running but we're still having issues with the tracker, but a solution seems to be in sight. Watch this space...
Comments
# Phil Satoor, December 31st 2013
Just enjoyed your Christmas Day video (Two Months in Antartica) so I thought I’d sign on and wish you both a very happy new year and safe and sound return northwards.
ps Borrowed today from the library a book of photos by Frank Hurley of Shackleton’s 1914-17 expedition where the Endurance was crushed in the ice but after great hardship, everyone returned safely.
# Intrepid, December 31st 2013
Is today the depot pickup of tech gear?
Dear Brave Ones,
The music flowing
Snow tracks paving way
Foot prints, soul prints
Night kept at bay
Miles acquired -
Fortitude at altitude
Safety required -
Aptitude with Attitude
Through nothingness
Full of bounties
Crossing years
Making history
Following your accomplishments,
The daily toil of accrued mileage,
The togetherness of each in his stride
Encouragement and companionship,
Wishing you all the fine details
Such a trek can be,
In standing ovation,
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!!!!
# ale, December 31st 2013
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALSO TO YOU HEROES OF THE ANTARTIC!!!!
# rocco, December 31st 2013
Happy New Year to you both keep warm and safe your on the homeward bound slog
# Dom, January 1st 2014
Happy New Year from Ohio! Glad you warmed up (finally), keep up the good work!
# George Chapman, January 1st 2014
Happy New Year Guys.
# Gary Fogel, January 1st 2014
Happy New Year Ben and Tarka!
# Nick, January 1st 2014
Aim for that 500 mile marker !
New Year new start of the first day of this new year.
I think nearer to the end i’d keep the sleigh and tent etc. If for the sake of 30 miles you give them up. Caution. I think it’s more worthy to pull them to the finish line. It’ll make a good photo finish possibly. They’ve kept you alive all these miles.
# Marion A-C, January 1st 2014
I can only try to imagine the challenges you face, but please know that what you are doing is remarkable, and a true inspiration to many. It is this example of human spirit and endeavour that sheds light in the darkest corners . I wish you both Godspeed, sure footing and happy digits! :)
# Christy, January 1st 2014
Happy New Year from the land of corn & soybeans! (Indiana, U.S )
Scary how things can happen just that quickly. Scott froze his feet near the end of his journey, just before he crawled into the tent for the last time, and that after he had always been so careful. Glad it turned out o.k. for you this time with your hands. Stay mindful! I imagine that’s way easier said than done in the land of endless white horizon.