Tracking
the Journey
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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 Weeks (Day 21)
Day 21: S79° 33' 13.38", E168° 33' 19.02"
Duration: 8 Hr
Daily distance: 10.7 Mi
Distance to go: 1650.3 Mi
Temperature: -17 °C
Wind chill: -27 °C
Altitude: 203 Ft
Today was our 21st day of skiing, and things are much the same down here at the bottom of the world: fairly cold, very windy, and the surface is still like quicksand mixed with treacle. We decided to up our quota of skiing time today to try to make semi-respectable progress over it, and did eight hours (seven "sessions", the first of 60 minutes and the next six of 70 minutes, with a ten-minute break in between each).
We still have 170kg or so (374lb) each in tow, so as you can probably imagine, it wasn't the easiest day out, but 17.2km was the score, which we're happy with.
Today was also my most successful day yet when it comes to what Sir Ranulph Fiennes called "mind travel", or escaping from the reality of being stuck in a sledge harness and straining away into a headwind through the medium of daydream. I suspect many of my old teachers would say that I'm uniquely gifted and qualified in this department, and they'll be glad to know that my years of staring blankly out of the window or dreaming of spaceships and distant planets while they chalked equations up on the blackboard have been put to good use.
Today was memory rather than fantasy, and I pieced together everything from walking from Oxford Circus to Knightsbridge via Mayfair to long walks in the Brecon Beacons with my dog, Molly.
We're both pretty tired and sore, but so far we're holding up well physically.
It's my turn cooking tonight so I'll get back to answering questions when I have more time soon. For now, I wanted to say hello and a huge thank you to Gillie Clarke for her tireless help. We wouldn't be here without you, Gillie.
Comments
# Claudia Tynes, November 15th 2013
Good going, guys!
# Luke, November 15th 2013
Great work, guys. Not sure if this has been answered yet, but what kind of compass are you using for such cold conditions?
# rumon, November 15th 2013
Fellas…21 days…how the time seems to fly here, where every morning I wake up anticipating your latest missive, your latest accumulation of miles, the dose of inspiration you inject into the start of my day. 21 days there, on the other hand…I can’t quite imagine. 21 days…the amount of time “the psychologists” tell us it takes to establish a new behavioural pattern…perhaps there’s some neurobiology at play then, Ben, in respect of your heightened ability to mind travel (love the term). If you descend from the heights of that travel in the coming days and land on your ski tips, if you don’t already have it on your iPod - and are able to get the lads back home to beam it to you through that bomber satellite connection of yours - might I suggest plugging into Robert DeLong’s “Global Concepts.” Pick an extended remix. Hit repeat. Had it going while banging the hills on the road bike a couple of days ago, thinking about you two.
And a bit of parting randomness, that just came across my desk, and I thought you’d appreciate:
“The man wasn’t on a forced march [through his life], but rather a wandering route notable for its ‘digressions and divagations’ as the old explorers liked to say. A route of the soul, perhaps.”~ Elizabeth Hay, in “Late Nights on Air” (http://www.elizabethhay.com/?book=late-nights-on-air).
Onwards, friends, along your route of the soul.Thank you for taking us along with you, and adding to our lives a daily dose of virtual digression and divagation.
# John McNeill, November 15th 2013
Happy to hear you mentioned Sir Ranulph Fiennes. His book “Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know” was what sparked my interest in the poles. Best of luck!
# Ralph Thomas, November 16th 2013
hI guys ,
can you see the mountains (Beardmore Glacier) already?:-)
How long does it take to see a bit from it?
take care and keep on going ,i count on you.
best regards Ralph Thomas (near Cologne ,Germany)
# Matthew Novak, November 16th 2013
I did a short hike today, first time in a little while… and when things got tough, I just thought about how crazy you guys are and what you’re going through. Thanks for the inspiration to get out and adventure!
-M.
# Tony Miles, November 16th 2013
I can relate to the daydreaming when confined to a classroom :) It’s going to be so nice when you get that weight cut down. Keep up the amazing work, you guys are an inspiration.
# John G. Harte, November 16th 2013
Best travels to you in mind and body.
# Cameron M. Smith, November 16th 2013
Good going, fellas! You crossed the mile marker I supported, several years ago, some time ago. Fantastic to see you underway. On my walks home from work in the evenings I imagine your trek, foot after foot after foot. Cheers from beautiful, blustery Portland, Oregon.