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.
Three out of Four (Day 90)
Day 90: S82° 40' 15.13", E169° 50' 23.28"
Duration: 9 Hr 30 Min
Daily distance: 25.9 Mi
Distance to go: 369 Mi
Temperature: -8 °C
Wind chill: -12 °C
Altitude: 190 Ft
Today ticked three of Tarka's four boxes for a perfect day - good surface, good terrain, good weather, good wind- - other than an annoying headwind, it was a grand day and we managed to bash out near enough 26 miles (42km), or a full marathon, which we're both happy about. We're keen to get home after a quarter of a year out here, and our target is to average 25 miles (40km) per day on the Ice Shelf back to Ross Island, so we're on track so far.
We'll pick up another depot tomorrow and we're hoping for more of the same weather and surface-wise. Both Tarka and I are incredibly fatigued and today was a new one for me; I didn't sleep well last night and I spent all of our nine-and-a-half hours on the move battling not to fall asleep on my feet, especially when it was Tarka's turn to lead. My eyes rolled back involuntarily every few minutes and their lids seemed so heavy that I'd occasionally relent and see how long I could ski with them closed before I lost my balance.
We're aiming for an early night tonight, and my blood sugar levels don't seem to be conducive to writing a blockbuster post tonight, alas, though we did see something today that I didn't expect to spot down here at all, and something I last saw in October: the moon. Tarka took a snap of me setting off towards it this afternoon and its presence seemed half-surreal and half-reassuringly familiar in what has been a pretty alien world for three months, a hint that soon we'll be back in the lands of day and night and glorious darkness to sleep in. I can't wait.
Comments
# Damian, January 23rd 2014
Less speed more haste to echo R Pierce’s thoughts. You’re making great progress but don’t make that progress at the expense of your long term goal.
Rest up and make best use of that depot tomorrow, a rest day could be just what you need.
All the best,
Damian
# Janet Stanley, January 23rd 2014
Fantastic mileage…a full marathon! Hope you are well rested Ben, take care to you & Tarka, you are both truly inspirational :)
# Intrepid, January 23rd 2014
Dear Ben and Tarka,
So glad you have now have the moon in your day!
My heart goes out to you. When I read your post, I felt like you were carrying my heart in your hand. Mine and everyone else’s hearts ... the world of us awaiting the completion of your journey, knowing you are safe and sound, home. And in a way, we are carrying you. We are invisible lights of the path home. You are with us word upon word, mile after mile. We help you persevere in the smallest of times, when you remember us listening, our attention on you, praying you are well. There are those whose lives you are meeting for the first time through joy and inspiration, motivation and calling. Everybody is completing a piece of a journey, 360 degrees of gratitude.
Here’s to tomorrow, all the way through.
# Richard Pierce, January 23rd 2014
Splendidly and eloquently said. Thank you! R
# Marina K, January 23rd 2014
Hear, Hear! Wish I had written that post! I echo your thoughts entirely.
I do hope B & T take the decision to have a day off to recharge and refuel (as long as this doesn’t break their momentum in a negative way). I am sure the support this side of the white continent will help (in some small way) to keep them going… From what I read I think they will make whatever IS the best decision for them.
As I hit refresh yet again on Google Earth for the umteenth time today already, I wish them both a good day’s ski across the ice!
# Pete Vassilakos, January 23rd 2014
Most excellent. I couldn’t have said it better!
# Mal Owen, January 23rd 2014
My thoughts expressed for me… wish I could pen it myself…... thx Intrepid
# Intrepid, January 24th 2014
Dear Richard, Marina, Pete, & Mal,
Thanks for sharing your experiences of the post I wrote. It’s fascinating (and totally surprising) when I let a feeling expand and as it flows through me becomes language and then even travels further still and renews itself as an experience of the reader!
BTW, I enjoy reading all your posts too. See you around….
# Dongo, January 23rd 2014
I don’t know how you guys do it day after day.
Huge admiration and respect of your already immense achievement.
Like Uncle Pete says “The main thing is to keep within your safety envelope, there are so many waiting to see you home and safe and hear the (full) story,” - so take care and don’t over cook yourselves on the final straight!
Best wishes from S France.
# Ian McNee, January 23rd 2014
Good work guys, you now have a milage I can actually imagine. Although I can still only think of 400miles as motorway milage - meaning it’s still a long way to go in real terms. It’s just you guys are real life supermen, so 400 seems like you’re nearly home.
So, I echo some earlier messages. Keep going guys but make sure you do everything you can to get back home and get home safe. Scott didn’t, but you’re not Scott. If that means another couple days out there then it’s another couple of days.
Greetings from Hull.
# Mal Owen, January 23rd 2014
It wasn’t till I read, ” been here a quarter of a year” that I realised how long I’d been feeding my daily ritual and how few days were left. This final stage will fly by…. And it’s only 335 days till Christmas !!! Good for you but not for me. I shall be a lost soul without you and don’t relish that shopping so soon !
Each day so far has had its highs and/or lows, today a mixture of both…. highs, the moon, the marathon and Tarka’s three out of four ..... lows, the headwind, the tiredness.
Not far to go now…enjoy the depot, have a food refuel and extra rest before you move on. Hope there are more highs left than lows and that you continue to be strong and safe and carry on mooning !
# Helena, January 23rd 2014
GO, GO, BOYS! You are doing just great. Still with you :-) Friends from Brno, Czech Republic
# Mia Bentley, January 23rd 2014
Good work boys…when i read your post of bashing out 40km a day it pushes me on to beleive i can do my half marathon in April.
Just follow the moon home xxx
# Pete Vassilakos, January 23rd 2014
Keep pushing guys! So close to victory. I often find myself of late, lost in thought trying to imagine what you guys have been doing in and out, day after day for the last 90 days. It’s mind blowing. It makes me feel claustrophobic, but also captivates me and makes me wonder just how far I would be able to push my human endurance mentally and physically. You guys are both a special kind of something! I will hold the highest respect for you both for the rest of my life. It must be an eerie thought to know you will be passing the marker in which those in history were unable too, and paid the ultimate price. I have no doubts you will return safely with the pride and guidance of the spirits of those before you, whom are now cheering you on!
Allons-Z !
Pete Vassilakos
vassdesign.com
# Pete Vassilakos, January 23rd 2014
BTW, it’s -29 C here in Montreal Canada today. It’s bloody warmer in Antarctica. Go figure….
# Rebecca, January 23rd 2014
Follow that moon! It does seem like a rest day might be in order, just to gather your strength for the final push home. The moon will wait for you. Stay safe.
# Raven, January 23rd 2014
Greetings from Vermont, where it’s -20°C right now! At least it gets dark at night though. Funny, the things you take for granted…wishing you restful sleep tonight!
# Dave, January 23rd 2014
Anyone on the moon would be following your progress keenly. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the people on the ISS are.
Any thoughts on taking a sleep aid to help stop you from slipping into the Twilight Zone?
Continued safety and progress.
# Phil Satoor, January 23rd 2014
I looked up the track of the ISS on the web and it seemed to me they never would be able to see much further south than about 70 degrees and Ben and Tarka are well south of that. Perhaps someone on the station could confirm. Of course anyone on the moon would be fine, assuming they’re on this side of it!
# Dave, January 23rd 2014
I meant via internet, Phil, to which the folks on the ISS have access. I enjoy watching the station pass overhead on clear nights from my much lower latitude. We never saw it during the brief hours of darkness on our recent visit to the Antarctic peninsula.
# Phil Satoor, January 23rd 2014
I must confess I’ve never actually seen it pass overhead. Is it easy to spot? Did you visit Antartica on a cruise and would you recommend it? I think that’s the only way I’ll ever get there myself.
# Dave, January 23rd 2014
I see the station often, Phil (as often as Michigan’s cloud cover and my sleep schedule allow, that is). NASA will even send a helpful email to let you know when it’s coming to your neighborhood’s slice of the sky—http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/.
I visited Antarctica on a cruise in December and loved, loved, loved it. Of course my experience was nothing like Ben and Tarka’s, though I can imagine many being inspired to go after following their expedition. TripAdvisor’s Antarctic Adventures forum (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g1-i12337-Antarctic_Adventures.html) is a great place to pursue information about visiting the white continent. And it’s where I first learned about Ben and Tarka.