It has been a really exhausting day. Extremely difficult conditions, alternating between crossing old sea ice, open leads and challenging screw ice. And we’re well aware that at least one more day of similar conditions awaits us in this area. Today we progressed 6 km in 9.5 hours – painfully slowly. When things are like this, you almost have to keep your eye on the tips of your skis and not think too far ahead. It doesn’t do you any good. Fortunately, both of us have beautiful skis! Mine are handpainted by Max, while Mike’s are decorated by his two daughters.
We take pleasure in little things. It’s been a gorgeous Polar night with northern lights and stars. Almost no wind – we’re navigating partly by the stars. Usually the wind direction is a key reference.
There are things we can enjoy. But it is heavy and exhausting to pull the pulks through this hellish screw ice. I think these are simply some of the worst conditions I have encountered. What is really depressing, is that half our progress is cancelled by the ice drift. No doubt about it: Our expedition has seen a very, very difficult start.
From now on, it can only get better. In the meantime things are rough, and every good thought helps.
Oh yes! We swam twice today across partially frozen leads. I used a pulk as an ice-breaker when I swam, and Mike followed in the channel behind me pulling the other three pulks. It was hard going. Fortunately we were able to walk around or cross all the other leads. Right now it is minus 20?C here, which means the temperature has dropped. And that’s good.
