South Pole solo
Roll With It
Camp: 84° 40’ 473” South 81° 03’ 058” West
Distance: 15.3 nautical miles (28.5 km)
Time: 9.25 hours
Weather: 10 knots in my face until early arvo then dropped off
Snow: frustratingly soft all day, will have to roll with it
Here is a little more info about my routine for the day.
I usually get up around 6-6.15am, light the stove to boil water for my porridge and top up my water bottles. I leave the tent around 7am to pack up my sled, put the tent down, toilet stop etc.
I am normally skiing by around 8am. I have my first snack/break around 10am. It is a quick drink and snack usually lasting about 3 minutes before I start freezing as I am standing still. Then I have another break around 11.30am.
I stop for a lunch break around 1pm for 30 minutes. I put on my down jacket for this, sit in my sled and put a bothy over my head to try and shield me from the wind. Then I am off again and it usually takes me awhile to warm up, especially fingers which start freezing when you stop.
I have another quick break at 3pm, then 4.30pm and start looking for a campsite around 6pm. Then I set up camp, which means often building a snow wall to protect the tent from the winds. Then I am usually in my tent around 7pm and start setting up the stove, boil water for dinner, call into ALE, call into home, do my blog, attend to my feet, then any repairs I need to do for the next day.
So it is pretty much 7-7 in or out of the tent every day. I saw Thiel mountain range this afternoon which is the first thing I have seen for some time.
Song of the Day is by Oasis – “Roll With It” which is exactly what I am doing in this soft snow. The greater challenge only strengthens my resolve. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGVlJkL2h1I
Hello to everyone in the pack riding group.
Mark ‘Georgie’ George
Comments
Mark…it’s your Vinson mate from Union Glacier…Chris.
Well I’m blown away by your trip and have been getting the daily updates.
What a massive undertaking…I remember talking with you about it in the Mess Tent at Union Glacier in January this year. You were soaking up as much knowledge as possible from fellow skiers while waiting for that Illushyin that took forever to come.
In my own very small way I can relate to what you are doing. I skied the Last Degree to the North Pole in April this year. It was awesome but nothing compared to this.
You are an inspitation to many people with this trip. Be proud of yourself mate. It’s a journey that not many take.
Cheers Mate…Chris (Canterbury VIC)
Keep rolling mate, saw Nicole & the kids yesterday. Nicole is wonder woman without the suit on.
I’m a bit worried about Mitchell – his face seems to be locked on a “permanent smile”. Gotta laugh!!! Harry is as cheeky as ever and Chloe is a beautiful girl with a new dress for her birthday Cheers Shark, Lem & E-V x
top effort georgie boy, those Tiges will be so proud of you, might even reward you with a top 8 finish! good luck for the rest of the journey stay safe. Fergie. xxx
HI MARK
I DO THE WEEKLY CLEAN AT YOUR WORKPLACE. NOTICING FOR AWHILE NOW THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN THERE. BINS ARE ALWAYS EMPTY. LAST WEEK I COULDN’T HELP NOTICING A NEWSPAPER CLIPPING PLACED ON THE FRIDGE THERE, ABOUT YOUR INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE. I WAS TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY!!! THERE YOU ARE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, ISOLATED AND INHOSPITABLE PLACES ON EARTH DOING THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY AND MYSELF, IN MY OWN WORLD, ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT AREAS ARE DUST FREE. WHAT A CONTRAST!
YOU ARETRULY A INSPIRATION!!!
ALL THE BEST FOR THE REST OF THE JOURNEY , TAKE CARE AND HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE CHRISTMAS
MARK – THE CLEANER
You have always loved a challenge. Not sure how you are going to top this one. perhaps you can fly to the moon and circumnavigate walking on your hands backwards with a blindfold on.Hold fast mate. All Mcleods are backing you.
At least you’re not bored, right?
I bet the endless wind gets old after a while but what an extraordinary journey. One foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be there.
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