April 18, 2010
Day 47. Getting Closer
I have finally allowed myself to think about the end of the expedition although mostly from a logistical perspective - coordinating our pick up, flights back to Canada, etc. Being done, relaxing in a chair, seeing Maria, camping with my nephew Tyler ... These are still very far away, and if there's one thing I've learned about polar travel, it's that anything can happen (and usually does). Four more days of travel means four more days of drifts, leads, thin ice, pressure ridges, cold wind and more.
Still, the fact that we are are here is not lost on me. I find myself looking around and trying to remember every moment and feeling.
'What's it like being back?' people often ask. I'm not going to lie, after two months on the ice living inches away from two other stinky guys (we haven't showered since March second) eating freeze dried meals and Cliff bars (yes they're good, but variety is nice too), it's really nice. However, the weirdest thing is simply not being the ice. I have the rest of my life to sit at tables or watch movies. This moment is fleeting. It can never be captured, but for now I am holding on tight.
It was colder and windier today. The sun was out to which made things a bit more pleasant. Still, we cooled quickly during breaks. We are actually having conversations during breaks now and we have to now strictly enforce the 10 minute break rule. Our last shift of the day was the best ice. Flat for nearly a half hour of skiing. Then some more drifts, and another long flat section - a nice way to end the day.
We got seriously bogged down for over an hour veering and crossing small leads. Several times we had to set up a relay to get the sleds across unstable brash ice. Later, one bigger chunk of ice broke free and rolled as Darcy and I were scouting a lead jumping point. You have never seen two people scramble backwards so quickly.
Most impressive today was watching the ice pressure. It feels like the Arctic Ocean is alive and the chug, chug, chug sound of grinding ice is its pulse. We all stared for a long time hesitant to look or ski away trying to remember this incredible moment.
Image: Darcy skiing along some pressured blocks.
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
Still, the fact that we are are here is not lost on me. I find myself looking around and trying to remember every moment and feeling.
'What's it like being back?' people often ask. I'm not going to lie, after two months on the ice living inches away from two other stinky guys (we haven't showered since March second) eating freeze dried meals and Cliff bars (yes they're good, but variety is nice too), it's really nice. However, the weirdest thing is simply not being the ice. I have the rest of my life to sit at tables or watch movies. This moment is fleeting. It can never be captured, but for now I am holding on tight.
It was colder and windier today. The sun was out to which made things a bit more pleasant. Still, we cooled quickly during breaks. We are actually having conversations during breaks now and we have to now strictly enforce the 10 minute break rule. Our last shift of the day was the best ice. Flat for nearly a half hour of skiing. Then some more drifts, and another long flat section - a nice way to end the day.
We got seriously bogged down for over an hour veering and crossing small leads. Several times we had to set up a relay to get the sleds across unstable brash ice. Later, one bigger chunk of ice broke free and rolled as Darcy and I were scouting a lead jumping point. You have never seen two people scramble backwards so quickly.
Most impressive today was watching the ice pressure. It feels like the Arctic Ocean is alive and the chug, chug, chug sound of grinding ice is its pulse. We all stared for a long time hesitant to look or ski away trying to remember this incredible moment.
Image: Darcy skiing along some pressured blocks.
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