Day 22

Day 22
Lat S84deg 19.256’
Long W80deg 36.254’
Altitude 1301m
Daily distance 12.35nm

The day started with a very light wind and by about mid afternoon there wasn’t a breath of it. Like the other day when this happened you can’t help but be in awe of being in such a vast open space alone and in total silence. I’m sure I heard a pin drop back at Union Glacier!
The only problem was that it turned minus 15 into something tropical when combined with the hauling. Goggles started to steam up and although it wasn’t quite warm enough to do without a jacket, the pit zips were fully open and front unzipped by a third. Last night when I’d pitched the tent I was shivering. Tonight I was sweating. How things change so quickly.
There was a bit of cloud however and for a period of two or three hours the sun went in. This has to be the first time since I arrived here on 23rd Nov that this has happened. Not that it’ll make much difference to me as I’m probably more pasty now than when I started. It did totally change what I was seeing in front of me and there was no longer any contrast so judging the route around the sastrugi became interesting.
It was quite a frustrating day again as under ski the terrain was largely crusty soft snow. It only gives a little but that’s enough to prevent any real glide and the rhythm becomes very stuttery. I do wonder if I was lighter and Percy was lighter that we wouldn’t break the crust but that’s what’s happening so better just get on with it!
Forgot to mention yesterday that I’ve now gone through 84 degrees. If it’s all like this then I’ll be glad to see the back of it too! I think I’ll be at Thiel by Saturday at this rate and it’ll be nice to have something to look at in front of me again soon.
I did see what I thought was a feature to the west this morning. It stayed on the horizon too long to be a big lump of sastrugi and checking the map it may have been the tops of the Stewart Hills. Forecast is similar for tomorrow, just need that surface to harden up.

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