There is nothing about this place that wants us here. Another day on the Arctic Ocean and another day at odds with ice, cold and snow. The snow conditions were a bit more favorable today, but a biting wind kept us focused on two tasks: moving north and staying warm.

Our short rest breaks have been hell (apologies) - if you can describe something so cold as that. We stand or crouch trying to find whatever warmth in our Sierra Designs parkas and terramar base layers. Clif bars, bacon, butter and chocolate are all eaten with minimum chews. Pulling our face masks down to put in food releases heat. After 10 minutes, we start snowshoeing and may not be warm again for another 30 minutes. It is only in the tent that we get warmth from other than our own bodies. Our little MSR stoves are lifesavers.

In describing today, Darcy summarized all our thoughts by stating, 'I'm just happy to be here no matter what the conditions.' He continued, 'and we had our best mileage to date - over eight miles.'

We are seeing the sun more and more which has definitely warmed our spirits The rich yellow light transforms the ice as it highlights here and cast shadows there. Even the smallest of flakes seem to project a larger presence... our own shadows stretched half way to the pole.

The Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) today sued the Obama administration for illegally delaying protection of penguins under the Endangered Species Act. Learn more at http://bit.ly/99r58c

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by bing with major support from the University of Plymouth, Terramar, Seventh Generation, Goal0, Atlas, Sierra Designs and Optic Nerve.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com

For information about guided Antarctic expeditions, please visit http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/

For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com

For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by bing and terramar with major support from Goal0, MSR, Sierra Designs, Optic Nerve and Clif.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net. For lecture inquires, please contact smakmaria@yahoo.com.

A new remote audio post has been added to the blog...

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by bing and terramar with major support from Goal0, MSR, Sierra Designs, Optic Nerve and Clif.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net. For lecture inquires, please contact smakmaria@yahoo.com.

The drifts of last night continued through most of the day. We seemed mired in a continued random assortment of ice and snow. Still we managed to string together ennough passable pans to make progress north.

It was slow going for most of the day until the ice transformed into 1-2' thick slabs and eventually a flat lead. It was a welcome relief after several hours of very hard work. The stroke of luck was not lost on us. We appreciate small successes more aand more.

The sunsets have been incredible. The sun is so low on the horizon that we can see the sun's final crimson sliver for nearly 15 minutes. After that, sunset lingers so long that we are hesitant to look away for fear of missing some bit of amazingness. Red fades into orange, yelloww then blue.

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by bing with major support from the University of Plymouth, terramar, Seventh Generation, Goal0, Atlas, Sierra Designs and Optic Nerve.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com

For information about guided Antarctic expeditions, please visit http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/

For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com

For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by bing and terramar with major support from Goal0, MSR, Sierra Designs, Optic Nerve and Clif.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net. For lecture inquires, please contact smakmaria@yahoo.com.

A new remote audio post has been added to the blog...

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by bing and terramar with major support from Goal0, MSR, Sierra Designs, Optic Nerve and Clif.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net. For lecture inquires, please contact smakmaria@yahoo.com.

A new remote audio post has been added to the blog...

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by bing and terramar with major support from Goal0, MSR, Sierra Designs, Optic Nerve and Clif.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net. For lecture inquires, please contact smakmaria@yahoo.com.