The two of us are now at N88°16’38”, E85°51’10”. We have done 21 km today, leaving 192 km more to go. It’s been a good day, really. It was merely –25°C when we stepped out of the tent today – and that’s summer temperatures compared to what we’ve been through! No cold fingers and not a single cold toe; that’s wonderful for a change. By the time we went to bed, the thermometer had sunk to –29°C, but even that is more than acceptable.
The wind was not as chilly today – it felt downright kind – and Mike and I have kept a nice and steady pace. However, we’re drifting backwards, no doubt about it, because our hours on ice with this good glide would normally have been rewarded with a few additional kilometres of progress.
We’re walking on good ice again, much better than the slushy and sandy ice that had plagued us the last few days. The sandy ice is due to sediments flowing down the great Siberian rivers, but I think we’ve seen the last of it. Hope so.
We’re walking at a good and even pace, pushing forward. I only have two problems. One is the pressure pains in my right foot, and especially the heel. I keep trying with spare socks, soles, even bits of foam mattress to alleviate the strain. But regardless of what I have done it’s been painful all day, and I don’t know why.
The second problem is that the steel edge of my right ski, the one I repaired last night, is already coming undone. That ski won’t last more than a couple of days before it snaps in two. These skis, which were supposed to be so strong and wonderful, have proved to be a great disappointment. They’re simply not up to it!
I am going to make one last attempt to repair them now. If that doesn’t help, then I have to cut them off, move the binding forward, and continue the trip on extremely short skis. I’ll manage somehow.
It’s been cloudy today, with a pretty strong wind coming at us from the north, carrying snow. That is the reason for the southerly drift. Well, that’s how it is. We’ll see what tomorrow bring and move closer yet to our goal.
