Friday 2nd December 2011.

The team experienced white-out conditions today and uphill travel that left everyone quite knackered. They made 19.2 kilometers. Their current position is S80.56.673, W81.10.615.

White-out conditions can be mentally exhausting, and particularly draining on the eyes and muscles used for balance. It’s difficult on the eyes because there is nothing to look at, absolutely everything is white. The eyes are continually scanning for something to focus on, and there is nothing. It’s hard on the balance muscles because they are constantly being used to prevent spills and wipe-outs along terrain that is basically invisible. Sometimes you don’t know if you are going up or down, leaning to one side or standing upright, skiing over a bump or stepping into a hole. It’s as if you are inside a pail of white paint, and at the end of the day you are ready for bed!

A little more information about their daily schedule:

The team arises at 7 AM and it takes them three hours to melt snow, cook breakfast, eat, pack up, break camp and be on their way. After 20 minutes of skiing they pause to de-layer. They ski for 1.5 hours then have a short break, then ski another 1.5 hours before a longer break. They repeat their skiing routine in the afternoon and stop skiing at 7 PM. They set up camp, melt snow for water, cook and relax and then hit the sack. That’s a long day!

Check out Bryony’s audio update and keep an eye out for more updates from the team.

The team reports a very satisfying day today, covering 18.6 kilometers in 8.5 hours, often uphill. They are all doing well and getting into the routine of life on the ice. Bob, in his audio update, reminds us all that they are travelling on the greatest ice sheet left on Earth. A very cool place to be indeed! Their location tonight is S 80.36.252, W 81.07.871.

Back at PolarExplorers headquarters near Chicago, USA, we toasted Bryony, Dennis, Bob, Ronny, Oscar and Lisa at our “South Pole Soiree”. This was a get together of adventurers and arm chair adventurers to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the South Pole’s discovery. We spent a lot of time talking about Amundsen’s and Scott’s historic expeditions. Even though much has changed in terms of outdoor gear and equipment (lighter tents, softer harnesses, more efficient stoves, etc.), the teams on the ice today experience the same conditions and terrain as the early explorers. The tug of a sled, the crunch of the snow underfoot, and the endless white – these are the same daily companions that the early explorers encountered. The biggest difference between then and now is that teams today are able to communicate with the outside world (happily for us home-bound friends and family!)

If you guessed “from behind” you are right! You can always tell which way the wind is blowing in polar pictures because people always place their back to the wind. You will notice, in the coming weeks, that the team is often photographed in a line, even when stopped for a break. This is simply because it’s uncomfortable to face into the wind (and the wind is almost ALWAYS blowing), and therefore they generally won’t congregate in a circle or facing each other.

Bob gives us a great audio snapshot of the day so make sure to listen to it below. And visit us again tomorrow for another update from the team!

http://fullsouthpoleski2012.blogspot.com/ Click here to listen to Bob’s new Audio Blog from their expedition in Antartica!