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.

Season’s Greetings from a Long Way South (Day 61)

Posted December 25th 2013,
by Ben Saunders

Category: Expedition, The Antarctic Plateau (Outbound)

Day 61: S89° 20' 3", E154° 17' 43.68"

Duration: 9 Hr 30 Min

Daily distance: 21.6 Mi

Distance to go: 948.7 Mi

Temperature: -24 °C

Wind chill: -32 °C

Altitude: 9708 Ft

Another quick one I'm afraid as it's been a long Christmas Eve here, with a few navigational challenges. We've been navigating so far my using magnetic bearings taken from our two GPS units but today the bearings started taking us wildly off-course, and what's more the two units we have were giving differing bearings by more than 20 degrees.

We've phoned Andy and given it to him as a little Christmas conundrum, but it wasted a couple of hours today and put an annoying kink in our route before we realised what was going on. We can travel due south easily enough, and have been doing so this afternoon on the E 154 meridian, but there are a couple of complicated waypoints at the South Pole station itself that we're supposed to hit, in order to avoid runways and scientific work that's being carried out.

As a result, it's been a frustrating day, though the weather and surface improved as time went on, so things are looking up for Christmas Day. We won't be celebrating in our little tent a great deal, I'm afraid. I have one card to open from a very special somebody, and I've brought Tarka a tiny present (don't let on, but it's some teabags and milk powder; we haven't had a cuppa for two months now). I've no idea if he's brought anything for me, but if he has I hope it's edible!

The photo is of me (looking pretty knackered) with the card that Intel sent us via satellite. Other than that, it'll be business as usual for us, and another nine hours of travel. Wherever you are, another huge thank you for following our journey as it unfolds, and I hope your Christmas Days involve a little less rationed food, a lot less distance from your loved ones, and a little more rest than ours will...

Happy Christmas

Comments

# Štěpán Hnyk, December 25th 2013

Truly unforgettable Christmas. Thanks for all!
Stay strong and safe.

# Richard Talbot, December 25th 2013

Merry Christmas from everyone at Mountain Equipment. Not far to the Pole now, a really great effort from you and Tarka. Glad to see all the equipment is holding up so well!

# Nick, December 25th 2013

Go for it !

sunny day all round.

# Rosie Vidovix Unsworth, December 25th 2013

Ben and Tarka
Cheers to one of the most memorable Christmas of your lives and a safe return home.

# Lewis, December 25th 2013

Sitting here on Christmas Day reading your blog (as has been a daily habit for the last 2 months) and wishing you both a very merry Christmas!!

Although not very Christmassy I’ll add one of my favourite quotes to the many that have already been added.

In the words of Rocky Balboa:

‘It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!’

Keep moving forward to the Pole and back again!

# Luca, December 25th 2013

Merry Christmas everyone..good job guys

# Carlos, December 25th 2013

Merry Christmas guys!!
Santa left at home a present for you.
It’s a box full of endurance, success and a pair of socks!

My very best Wishes. Carlos.

# Dean Williams, December 25th 2013

I follow your trek daily, and wonder what it is like to put thoughts of attempting such a feat into action. 
Achieving goals of any kind, be it explorational, financial, weight-loss, and the like cannot be achieved without taking the next step, or for that matter, the first step.  I have read many self-help and business books, but reading this blog has been be the ‘hammer on the thumb’ for me if you will.  I thank you, and wish continued success in your expedition.  Merry Christmas from Canada.
Dean

# Dan (San Diego), December 25th 2013

This expedition is a wonderful Christmas present to the world - Thank you.

# Jerry Colonna, December 25th 2013

Very well said, Dan. Thanks B&T for making us all part of the Team.

# Jim Mclean, December 25th 2013

Happy Christmas to you both , we are all humbled and amazed at your fantastic journey, god speed to the pole and safe home. Thanks for all the updates.  The Mclean family in Tarland Scotland

# Sanna , December 25th 2013

Happy White Christmas Ben and Tarka!
Greetings from the other side of the earth, namely Finland. Here we don´t have snow almost at all and the temperature is plus five, which is quite rare. But still waiting the white wintertime and possibility to ski. (The Santa Clause is living in the norther part and there is snowy.)  I hope your good weather, and the stamina to do your activities of daily living! Enjoy yours beautiful Christmas!
Sanna, reader

# Kristoffer, December 25th 2013

Occasionally in Minnesota (where I live), it is similar.  My great-grandfather emigrated here in the early 1900s, and he said that there were years where the fields would be free of snow.  I’ve seen those myself.  -6 C here, with about 15 cm of snow on the ground and more is falling!

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