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.
Stationary (Day 13)
Day 13: S78° 38' 57.12", E168° 30' 57.72"
Duration: 0 Hr
Daily distance: 0 Mi
Distance to go: 1713 Mi
Altitude: 141 Ft
The storm continues to rage outside so we've remained in the same place today. I went out to answer the call of nature, to dig up some more snow for drinking water and to shovel away the giant drift threatening to bury one end of our tent and the conditions were some of the worst I've ever seen.
I've had tent-bound storm days on previous expeditions, and conditions outside are usually far more benign than they sound inside the flapping, booming tent. Here it's the opposite: it was worse outside than I'd imagined and unzipping the outer door of the tent felt like trying to crawl out of a car window as it hurtled through a blizzard at motorway speeds.
Once outside, if I only kept one hand on the shovel it flew horizontally like a flag in the wind, and while I went about my business the gale hurled fine, gritty snow into my hood, my boots... As I chopped blocks of snow for our stove, the smaller fist-sized chunks just blew away, so I filled our sack with boulders.
The noise and the sheer violence of the weather now I'm back in the tent is remarkable.
For now we're upbeat; a rest will have done us good, and we knew Antarctica would have days like this in store for us.
(Today's picture is from clearer times before the storm came in.)
Comments
# Luke Hull, November 7th 2013
Enjoy the rest!
On these tent-bound days do you have to reduce your food intake so that you have enough remaining to make up the day or have you allowed for a few days like this?
Personally I would probably end up eating double rations!
# pfong, November 7th 2013
Have a good rest guys. Stay safe.
# moshe, November 7th 2013
Stay strong guys!!
# George Chapman, November 7th 2013
Great Photo today. It just really looks beautiful. I wish I were there with you. Stay warm have fun and keep smiling. Just look at that horizon.
Following you on FB and Google Earth from sunny Central Florida U.S.A. Todays temperature 67ºF at 4:30 AM local time.
# Wendy, November 7th 2013
Stay safe! You are both amazing! (Following your journey from an island in Mozambique)
# Nikki, November 7th 2013
Stay safe and have a wonderful rest! Enjoying the expedition!
# Bård Haug, November 7th 2013
Wondering what you are wearing inside the Alfa Extreme North Pole boots to keep warm? Do you use the Wool Kartanks with a Helly Hansen blue synthetic stocking outside, like Christian at the Sportsnett shop normally recommend, or do you use other solutions like the Intuition Universal Liner?
# Scott Expedition Team, November 20th 2013
They use Intuition liners
# George Chapman, November 7th 2013
I see the guys are on the move again, Wishing them a good day.
Following you on FB and Google Earth from sunny Central Florida U.S.A.
# Alison P, November 7th 2013
You guys are amazing! I have been eagerly following your expedition since the beginning, and every day I wake up (here in San Francisco) the first thing I want to do is to read what you guys did the day before. I look first at the statistics - how many miles you traveled and what the temperature was. And then I read the blog and I love all of the details that you are able to write. I have been an armchair polar explorer for as long as I can remember. I have read probably hundreds of books on polar exploration, but this is the first time I get to see what it’s like to be on an expedition in real time every day. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell your readers how your days ago. And I surely hope that you get and receive all the encouragement, prayers, and good wishes coming your way.
I was happy to read this morning that you get a day of rest, as gosh you guys sure are working hard! I hope that everything continues to go well and the journey is a success beyond your wildest dreams. Know that so many people from so many places around the world are following you every day and cheering you on. Blessings to you both.
# DJ, November 7th 2013
A couple of days ago a commenter on this blog referenced a book called The Worst Journey In The World by British aristocrat-explorer-survivor Apsley Cherry-Garrard. While finding the book I also found that his memoir of being the assistant zoologist on the Scott Antarctic Expedition in 1910-1913 was turned into a docudrama and I have found it in 5 sections on You Tube.
For convenience I’ve place all five segments together on the above web page if anyone wants to view them all. It’s a tad bit dramatic but that was its intent and it’s a good view. He was the one who wrote so vividly about being on the rescue team and finding his friend’s bodies frozen in their tent.
# Scott Expedition Team (Chessie), November 8th 2013
Thanks for the heads up DJ - we’ll link them into the YT channel as well.
# soulboat, November 7th 2013
Thinking of you guys, your courage, stamina, optimism, desires and humor that likely could last to the pole and back 10 times. Here’s to imagination ....and filling in all the places that keep you warm and full of spirit.
# Austin Duryea, November 8th 2013
Man that sounds bad. Out here in new Braunfels Texas it’s only gotten down to about 50 degrees. Right know is the coldest it’s been so far. 43 degrees. Stay strong and rest up.
# Janet Stanley, November 7th 2013
Glad you got a chance to recharge….out of inconveniences come positive things! Stay safe :)
# Reina Austriaca, November 7th 2013
This is an incredible trip! Really amazing of you guys. I love the pictures.
Stay safe!
# Chris and Richard, November 7th 2013
wonderful, fantastic, we are enthralled, however, mathematics suggest you need to be covering 15 miles/day.. will you be able to make up the difference as the load becomes lighter?
# Kristoffer, November 7th 2013
My calculations indicate that for their journey of 1,800 statute miles during 110 days, they need to cover an average of 1,800/110=16.3636 statute miles per day. I assume that they can make up the difference once the loads are lighter, but that is just an assumption.
# JOEL COOK, November 8th 2013
I spend a miserable Yosemite night in a tent where it got down to 17 deg. F. Didnt sleep a wink. Dont know how you guys do it!!
# Mubeshar Aziz, November 12th 2013
love the way you describe your blog, must be ruff and awesome, following you guys on the facebook everyday from Islamabad, Paksitan