perfect trail ... so different - December 31, 2015 at 05:52PM

- December 29, 2015 at 06:49PM

29/12/15 11.7nm, flat, could see the horizon for markers (sadly not the ground - so a partial whitout), good surface (ie runners were in use rather than having to pull a snow plough) - great! ..... Except.... A bit of the blues set in today. Absolutely mental block- negative, horrid and counteracted the best conditions that we have had to date. Fustrating. 

On trail not a lot is said so you are just lost in thoughts and as there is not too much to look at in Antarctic (especially like today or in a whiteout). Usually its a great thing to ponder life and the world ... I like it especially with tunes playing in the background.... But today, for the first time, all i could think about was the negative. Ugg. I can only put it down to 'letting the hair down' after the extreme hard work and pushing through for many weeks blues. Similar to a teacher who gets ill on the first week of the school holidays or the time after the trail run or hike stops. I have posted this today 30/12/15 .... After a great, positive day.... Such is life ... But the reality of life out here i guess.

30/12/15 - December 30, 2015 at 06:44PM

Woooohoooo ..... 13.1nm in 8 hours. Great surface and something that we should have had since the beginning. There werent any trenches being made we could see the ground and even the horizon!! Woohoo!!

So, I have been given a deadline of getting to the south pole by the 3rd feb. Gulp! Loadsa time you would think but taking that the first 3 degrees were the 'worse ever' ....( And I have to completely agree now that I have had a day on a surface that should be the norm... ) Who knows what can happen in the next 7 degrees. Gulp again. Baseline is that I will need to ski (no matter what the conditions, stagugi?!, hill, wind, snow, cold or level of tiredness... is 11.5nm per day, everyday until the end (aka no breaks). Tomorrow we will start hour stints, take a break away and maybe do 9 hour skiing....all at speed.... Gulp again! So, today, we are replanning .... aiming to do a degree every 5 days, get to the next resupply (half way in 6 days) and talking of changing the days to 20 hours rather than 24hours. Furthermore I am also up for 'night skiing' and round the clock skiing in the last week, cause darn it.... I need to get to the south pole! On this trip... every barrier that could be put in place has been ... weather, delay, delays, delays, polar thigh, coughs, colds, whiteouts, deep snow, more snow than ever before, extra weight..... the list goes on!! But darn it again.... I will try my darndest right to the bitter end.... just before I am dragged, kicking and screaming onto the plane (if its before the 3rd). Crazy days!!! .... Unless of course there is a super kind person out there that would agree to pay the £140,000?!? needed to put on a special chartered flight to pick me up post the 3rd Feb? Just in case there is ... Please make contact with A.L.E directly (no harm in asking i guess). Or indeed, if anyone would like to pay/sponsor my solo attempt in November 2016 (same amount) ... Then I would be truely grateful in uber amounts!

27/12/15 - December 27, 2015 at 06:13PM

All I can say about today is that we continue to carve 9nm trenches through the fresh deep snow! Should keep the scientists in space contented with the new phanonamon in Antarctica. And it appears that it will continue until next resupply in 130nm at Thiels, perhaps BT could use our trenches to put in cable!!

- December 26, 2015 at 03:22PM

Its official as it could ever be ..... Today it was declared the worst trip/ 3 degrees ever...(greenland and antarctica) With the most brutal of conditions. So, i guess today .... Brutal was elevated to new heights! We have passed our third degree - so just 7 more degrees left. Oh and this morning we had (antarctica term) lots of snow hoars on the skis, tent guidelines and covering the surface. To you and me, they are little snow ball crystals scattered delicately along the edge of skis or seen hanging from the lines. On the snow surface they look like little pyramids .... The reality, however, is its uber cold and on the ground they are like glue and ensure that max effort is put into each step!!

24/12/15 xmas eve - December 25, 2015 at 04:07PM

I put out my stocking ...... And left a probar out..... Sadly santa didnt want the probar!! ;o))

25/12/15 - December 25, 2015 at 04:05PM

A very merry and sunny xmas to you all from Antarctica. What started out as a difficult pull for first two hours ... Suddenly weight just melted away and it was like santa arrived at the South Pole (Yes Chris, he did ) So, with a total of 4 hours skiing with blue sky all the way.... Its back to happy days!

- December 25, 2015 at 04:05PM

Resupply 24/12/15 10.5nm was all that was planned for today, early finish, a bit of a nero so that we can stuff our faces on the additional food, sort out sleds and rest. Now, if we had yesterdays snow .... Perfect! We would have zipped across in 5 hours... Yep, thats right, we would have.... IF we had yesterdays pm snow.... Sadly last night brought more snow with a wee bit of wind to shake it up... Just enough to make it deep enough to pull the snow ploughs again and rough enough to act like sandpaper on the skis and sled. Wooohoooo jezzzt our luck! so, it was 7 hours ..... And meant that the 'nero' has turned into a nerfull. Nontheless, it was great to see the resupply flag from 1/2 a click and reach our first real milestone of the trip.

- December 22, 2015 at 04:55PM

22/12/15 whiteout 12.7nm again in white out conditions for 6 out of the 8 travelling hours. Surface is getting harder (woohoo) but with the continued snowfall we are ankle deep.... But today that was ok.

- December 19 2015 at 05:42PM

19/12/15 After probably the best nights sleep since being here, just as we finished brekkie we heard the sound of a plane. Circling overhead. Thoughts that perhaps they were just 'buzzing' overhead on route to the southpole ... But it appeared that they were going to land. Immediately i went through the check. Carl had spoken with his wife the night before, i had my sister so both famillies were ok. Next, i thought that it was due to my polar thigh!!! And they had sent a doc and plane to check and take me away (although very cottonwool lovely ... I was very definate that it would have been overkill and NOT my time to leave). After a couple of circles, just as it looked as though it was going to land ... Out pops a black bag with orange tasells and lands a few 100m from the tent. It was the spare norweign bindings and 40 days worth of cream and dressings for my polar thigh. Now how wonderful was that! Completely unexpected and lovely to also read the jokes and messages on the tassels. So, not picked up today but now have enough supplies and Nor binding for my skis should they give up on route. The guys at Union Glacier are amazing, uber lots of thanks go to Tim - logistics, Jen the Doc, Adam who found the Nor bindings, and the pilots on the twin otter (including the thrower outer) and everyone else that contributed to getting the med supplies etc to us. The rest of the day was spent skiing on the soft stuff that isnt anyones friend out here.... 11.6 nm .... Of energy zapping climb pulling a snow plough behind! But the world is all good, and a more positive one with enough medical supply and binding to safely see me through the next phase!

- December 20, 2015 at 02:20PM

20/12/15 And stop. Its been 8 days since our last break/rest and boy am I feeling it. This soft snow is really taking its toil. Its like heavy cross country skiing off piste pulling a snow plough behind, for 7 hours a day plus 70 min break (10min break every 50 min) a day. As a pair, slowing up or stopping mid flow is difficult/ frustrating and in short timings are not flexible. So today was the day that i started to ski 1.2nm per hour, every lift of the ski to get over the next bump, snow pile or whatever it maybe (cause today there wasnt any definition again) required masses of effort. So I called it a day.... After 2 hours of skiing, today. Although my stubborn head screams in frustration and throws personal insults at myself for stopping... my sensible and realistic side repeatedly reminds myself that I am in brutal conditions, gone through brutal weather conditions from the start, carried extra weight from the first full day and havent yet experienced even one hour of 'good' crispy floor surface that a sled and skis would glide over that would be the norm in past years and would provide a welcome break from trudging through soft snow that just keeps on falling!!! Darn it!!! . Deepends and challenge is the name of the game but yes, i still love this challenge and tomorrow i will have new legs.... Cant wait. Time for more sleep... Night xx

- December 16, 2015 at 05:14PM

Complete whiteout today. 6 hours of looking at the strapon compass and back to the white wall. Brutal I think we can call it. 6 hours/9.34nm and we called it a day. Its funny that skiing in such conditions (blind) the balance goes and sense of direction. There were several times when I really did think that I was leading the guide in circles! I didnt if course. Same again tomorrow me thinks but tomorrow i will talk about shunting and polar-thigh!

- December 14, 2015 at 05:42PM

Pacing it out... 14/12/15 Today we skied 11.43 nm and have nearly reached the first degree. Woohoo! Today was about actively slowing down, pacing it out and increasing the ski rounds to 50min with 5 min break rather than 45min and 10-15min breaks. So, in short, slow down emma, reign in and enjoy the short days! So today, i acted like a moody teenager without the mood.... And did the slow mopey shuffle across the lands whilst thinking of life as a teenager!! It did keep me entertained for a bit... 

- December 13, 2015 at 05:08PM

Blue ski 13/12/16 Has it really been a month since I left Heathrow? What a month it has been though. Today, was the first day of blue skies and nil wind and time for pulling out the sunglasses! A First!!! Today, we went 13.6 nm (nautical miles) or 14.65 miles in 7.5 hours which was good. Conditions were great.

- December 11, 2015 at 04:54PM

Ok, quick summary so far: Passport and near miss deportation, delays in Punta for 2ish weeks Fly out to Antarctica -Union Glacier - another week or so delays due to weather. Never before... Fly to Hercules Inlet (start point) and have to do an about turn back to union glacier (due to weather)..... Maybe likely before but definitely not too often!! Get to Hercules Inlet (Hooray!) ... And have two days of white out, deep powder snow not seen for many years and guess what we now have two days of 45kt gusts /winds upon us .... Making skiing with the sled impossible!! There are of course matters of peewees to add to the mix. But that llliiiiiiiiiitttttttlllleeeeee snowball that started to roll on friday 13th has just got bigger and bigger! Although I have to say, i kinda like it .... Never liked the standard challenge ... But i wonder what is next ...... However more importantly, in return I have met some uber wonderful peeps, had too many giggles to count, flown out to antarctica on the 757, met more amazing peeps at Union Glacier, eaten dream food ... had uber lovely support from family and friends, experienced the weather of Antarctica and totally feel like an explorer and adventurer

- December 08, 2015 at 05:02PM

Trend setting even in Antarctica!! Early finish today.

- December 08, 2015 at 04:58PM

Thats just white, white and white

- December 08, 2015 at 04:58PM

White out, 25kts blowing from the south east. All would be fine but for this trip we are wading through 30cm of snow that doesnt hold any weight and means that as you lunge (and pulling 55kg+ from the hip) you also have to lift the leg (and ski) in order to be able to get a proper edge on the ski (plough styleeee for skiers out there) so that you can push out so that you can pull the sled along. Energy zapping i think you can call that... And more. Fabulous is another name ... Well unless the guide states that he has never seen this before ..... Deep snow? Usually its blown away by the winds and hardened by the sun! Hoho!! Aparently 5 days total for the whole trip would be usual ...so thats great that we have already got 2 days out the way so early!! But I dont know .... something tells me that this is just the beginning ... for the very 'unusual' 'freak weather' 'never seen before' kinda year that I have had. Oh and btw we are expecting my tent to be buried by morning - just like our sleds this am.

- December 07, 2015 at 04:08PM

Well white out takes on a new meaning in antarctica. 25kt wind with no way of seeing the end of the skis let alone the horizon it really is a very unique place! Today we needed to use a 'strapon compass' - simple eh?

 Ohh nooo!!! Ok, so its only -14 degrees (but that doesnt include the added bonus of wind chill!) Today, trying to go for a toilet stop gave me fashbacks of the desert on the PCT..... I will save that story for later! So, many would probably use many expletives to describe today... And that would be true .... But today i really felt like an explorer, adventurer and nuts for doing this..... But i wouldnt want to be doing anything else right now.

- December 06, 2015 at 04:33PM

And up, up and more up.... so thank goodness we dont have full sleds nor deep snow!! I was warned that getting out of Hercules Inlet was kinda steep... As the diagram shows below: 

Funny yesterday and today we have only done about 5.9 miles /9.5 km ... 420 elevation .... But as an ultra *cough* runner or someone who was averaging around 33-36 miles a day over the PCT hills ...6 miles seems ridiculas. But its darn hard work - a 70kg+ sled being pulled up hill (see diagram above) on loose deep snow with 'wind snow hills' just to add to the challenge is kinda tough. Oh, and how could i forget.... The brrr cold wind blowing constantly into the face!! Its definately tougher than anything that i have done to date. But..... I love it. Yes, its hard work, yes it is cold (frost bite is always near), yes you sweat (although you try not to), yes the pulk/ sled is heavy, yes the snow collects in front of the sled is a tad frustrating, yes the wind is constant ... .... But i simply love being out here, in the middle of nowhere, its so different, so peaceful ... So perfect. Happily back on trail... Happy days

- December 06, 2015 at 04:27PM

View of the white ocean... Shame that you can appreciate the wind, temp or elevation with a sled.

Two tents ...

- December 05, 2015 at 05:49PM

Finally after weeks of waiting we got the all clear and were back on the plane praying that we wouldn't be turned around again. We had a lovely exit in the canteen from the Union Glacier staff ... Truely lovely people who will be missed. This picture is at Hercules inlet and we waved goodbye to the plane. 2 hours of skiing, pulling full sleds through soft snow was a good intro. Luckily i led and 'broke track' so had a great time skiing to point and paving the track way. Love it! Camp up, fed and watered its so wonderful to be back on trail .... A white one without shops this time. Blinkin fantastic! Oh and did i say, soft snow skiing up hill all the way! L.o.v.e i.t!!!

Leaving UG to fly to the start line at Hercules Inlet.

- December 04, 2015 at 06:15PM

Returning back to Union Glacier

- December 04, 2015 at 06:14PM

Under that cloud was our start point ...... We went 7miles further then turned around.

- December 04, 2015 at 06:11PM

4am this am .... Sun is out 24 hours a day but this am it was blue sky!!

close part 4 - December 04, 2015 at 04:15PM

The view of the cloud where we were meant to land! 12.20 we were flying back to the clear skies of Union Glacier. A perfectly smooth landing (the best ever) .... With the message that the next update will be after 5pm. And now 8pm with a delayed flight expected .....

close part 3 - December 04, 2015 at 04:09PM

10.15 am order to get ready - we were flying at 10.45. By 10.30am my pulk/sled was on the plane following the last photos. 11.15am everyone was on the plane after saying the last goodbyes (yep my weakness again -god darn it!) .... And we were off. Wooohooooooo! Hercules Inlet here we come. I have to say, as we took off feelings were overwhelming .... Fily.... Its at moments like this that I know that my last message and correspondence would be to my father ...moreso as we had spoken many times of this dream.... But onward ... Looking forward as always.... 12.00 there were some shaking of heads and hand slicing the neck. Sadly the 'hole' was no longer and the pilots weren't able to fly/land as there isnt a runway there (nor guides, station, flares etc) so pilot vision is important!

close part 1 - December 04, 2015 at 04:08PM

Close but not close enough.... So, last night we were told of the 'hole that was developing' at 4am that needed to be monitored. We were told that peeps will be up at 4am to make a decision and we will need to be ready to move from 5am. So, at 3.30am i woke with the sun beaming down on my tent. Exciting i thought.... But i needed to wait in my tent until the guide (Carl) came at 5am. Hmmm, ok, so like a kid at Christmas ... I did try to go back to sleep.. Honest I did.... But by 4am i found myself getting into my expedition gear and packing up my sleeping bag. The weather outside looked too good for us not to fly.

close part 2 - December 04, 2015 at 04:08PM

However, after pacing the tent a couple of times ... I couldnt wait. So, i started towards the communication (comms hut). On route, another expeditionor (Luke) popped his head out of his tent wanting to know if we were flying. He too was too excited to sleep. Onward then to the coms hut although sadly the crunch, crunch, crunch of the snow under foot meant that this was not going to be a quiet sneak over to the hut. So, the news of the weather man Marc, and operations manager Tim was that there was cloud cover that meant that flight was not possible but it was to be monitored ... So back to sleep for me via an update for luke (and Khai who popped his head out of his tent too). 9am- update was that we would get another update at 10.15am.

- December 01, 2015 at 03:36PM

Union Glacier ....

nice and warm - December 01, 2015 at 03:35PM

Ready for a quick spin around Union Glacier

Live Update from Antarctica December 01, 2015 at 12:42AM

Mr Meader ..., i dont have your email address doh!! Xxx

Live Update from Antarctica November 30, 2015 at 03:37PM

Yep thats right, although we arrived at Union Glacier and our sleds are now fully packed and ready to go, we are unable to fly to the start point due to a severe weather front. 40-50mph winds and horizontal snow has meant that the planes on site have had to be anchored by trucks. Although yesterday we went out for a 10km ski with the sleds to test everything out in the whiteout - today, even that is impossible. This of course is unusual for this time of year! This statement seems to be following me around this year! So, the latest update is that we should be able to fly out on Thursday! Fingers crossed.

Live Update from Antarctica November 26, 2015 at 09:43PM

A huge hello, live from Union Glacier in Antarctica. I arrived in 1st class style and settled into my 'pod'. We will be spending 2 days shaking out before flying again to the start point... I keep on pinching myself to make sure that I am not dreaming! Its cold without the clothing (so best I keep them on then!) but stunning views. I was right about the nerves and excitement... But just not the intensity. Anyway, time for bed (even though its strange to think that there will be daylight all night! Bye for now x

Could it really be time?

I have set up this post with the expectation that I may have to run out the door, having received 'the call' and expect that wifi will not be availiable. 

If that is the case, after a five day delay, we are off! Flying through the sky to the Union Glacier station - see brief video : https://vimeo.com/103828993 shake out for a couple of days before flying onto the edge (Hercules Inlet)- the start point. 

Although I am preempting this post - i know that nerves and excitement will be off the scale but also a relief that finally we are super close to the startline and the moment of knowing that its only about 700 miles between myself and the silver ball! (Nearly said that with a straight face!) 

I think that a caged bird would sum up the last few days. Although trips to the gym, walk around the local forest and visiting a ship (fascinating) were great (and i am so thankful that ALE who put on these trips - not being out there, relaxing and just eating and drinking is plain and simple alien .... 

I will be updating the blog as i go although limited to number of words and quality of pictures. However, its super exciting that I can be in contact throughout although I probably wont be focusing on the pain, sweat and cold .... That will be left for the story afterwards!

 

I am so pleased that i had that 'one last beer' last night.... Cause that meant that we fly today. 😀😀😀

Sorting out the nuts!

The last of the food was divded up and put into small bags, the massive tents were shaken out, poles were taped together and bug nets removed....

(This is the other team that are heading to the south pole on a different route) 

The space inside the Heliburg Keron 3GT is amazing and we have another 2G version too.

So, 😉 after the last of the boxing up all that was left was to weigh in and have the last?! night of good food and a beer.

Now of course A beer with a precursor of a healthy pisco sour and a tiny wee sprinkling of competition ..... Ended in a jossal with the coke ordering youngsters and the winning beer 😀 

.... At 3.30am..... 

.....Before up at 9.30am for a personal kit weigh-in and a cocktail briefing at the ALE HQ at 5pm! Sadly, we are now playing the waiting game for a window of good weather to fly out to Union Glacier in Antarctica.... We maybe sometime ..... 

Sorting food for 2 months

Today was spent sorting out technology links and the daily food bags. Each freeze dried meal (breakfast and dinner) needed to be opened and emptied into a thin plastic bag (as they are less weight and bulk) along with pro bars, chocolate and soup etc into the zip lock bags. 150 of them with a few extra 24 not packed so well. 

So, as this is a minimum of 2161 calories just in snacks and 2000 ish for meals, this is what we will be eating on a daily basis ( with some salami, cheese and crackers on the side if we get hungry).  

We still need to add nuts and dried fruit but that should keep the old body going (of course this doesnt include the additional snacks and high cal drinks that add even more calories). I just hope that I lose the 2.5 stone that I put on for this trip 😳

Shopping and shaking out ...

The best shopping in the world ;o)) 

Imagine heading into a supermarket ... With someone elses credit card and buying a shopping trolley of pringles, another of chocolate and another of tea and coffee! Magic! 

(This is Khai, team mate from USA) 

So this is the food/ supplies for the trip and all we need to do now is shake out, strip and repack. 

So that is what we did! 150 breakfasts divided into little bags, 150 dinners, 150 lunches, a few! Cheesy potatoes..... It... Was... Great... Fun!..... ............ Although it did confuse the dogs in the street!! ;o)) 

However the best bit will be tomorrow ....... 

Yes, that is chocolate, yes, it will have to be consumed ..yes, All of it 😀 

Passports are important .....

So, its great to know that I have set off to a flying start..... Well I say flying ... and that would be true, I did set off and did fly on a plane, different planes in fact, for many an hour. Flying so much that Immigration, in their tiny wee office in Santiago ... wanted to support me and put me on a plane right back to England. 

Apparently.... 

'we cant let you enter the country without a passport so you will have to return back to England' they said. 

Yep, it was just about at that point that the tiiiiiinnnnyyyy littl' snowballl started to gather great speed down the mountain..... 

But it was ok.... Well i say OK but that is relative and only after collecting my pj's etc  and ripped bags from the conveyer belt that appeard to be impersonating Zippy and George with a hangover, that things seem to settle again .... Well until i missed my sceduled flight/transfer of course and had minutes to get on the next flight! ...... Oh how I ran😀😀😀😳😀 .... 

Good start I think 😀

Its all about lasts.....

This week is all about lasts. Last weekend, last gym session on Monday, last night at the festival hall on Thursday, last pint, last delivery date, last delivery, last pack, last check.... Last last last! Gulp and of course, last goodbyes..... my weakness.

I refuse to have those conversations., way too serious... way too final... way too something! Sorry! But just know the final xxx or 😄 carries the delicate unspoken words, gratitude and love .... You know....

So with words left by my mother:

'Don't put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today'

and my father...

'The time has come, the Walrus said to talk of many things.... Of shoes - and ships and sealing wax- of cabbages - and kings- and why the sea is boiling hot - and whether pigs have wings'  

(Through the looking glass by Lewis Carroll.)

Whilst armed with my library of tunes ..... with Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy as song no.1      http://youtu.be/2rd8VktT8xY

I .....guess ....its ....nearly time .....to ......edge closer...... to .....the ......Antarctica......

GIGGLING and RUNNING IN MY BEST FERLOMPING STYLEEEE EVER! Wooooooioooooohoooooooo 😀😀😀😀 its too exciting for words!!! 

Pythom.com

http://www.pythom.com/Meet-Carl-Alvey-and-South-Pole-team---Hercules-Inlet-route-2015-16-2015-11-05-10987

Westminster Abbey

A very special and moving morning with a fun pm with friends...... 

 

 

I was going to get some advice from Harry about the Pole ... But he was otherwise engaged.... 

Visual summary of Polar Training & Antarctica striptease 😉

A little summary of my polar training in New Zealand 😀

And of course the demo of the number of layers 😀😀 aka Antarctica striptease 😀😀

Polar training in New Zealand

A quick up, shake out the kit (😉😀) and we headed out to the heliport at the base of the Glacier. 

We arrived on the glacier and the focus was setting up camp and putting the brew on. We literally dug in .... Something that i havent done for many a year😀. I have to say, i love the mountains and its so good to be back in them - there is something very peaceful about the mountains. After an extremely difficult couple of years but with the last being another 'turning point' (more to follow on that) I am starting a new chapter with 2600mile hike and 2 month expeditions to the South Pole, this should be a good starting point for the next stage.... especially as i am feeling stronger than i have ever before as i sit on the mountain with my integrity, principles and moral compass fully in tact. And that feels great and I guess comes with the above 😀

Ok, so there were a few realisations on this trip. One of them being how compact the tent was (i had a one person bivvi for the PCT) and the thought that 'i will of course have to use the peewee in the tent' (with two other guys) still seems a distant line that i have yet to cross!! I am sure that i will update you as i get closer to that line 😀.

On Sunday we, (ok so i say we .... But i really mean I hoofed the 53kg sled and Andy sailed up ahead, less a sled😀) up the glacier. The sun was out so the sweat was on and with the ever increasing gradient and reaching the tipping (or dragging back point) on what i could pull up the mountain on the sled got ever closer 😀.

Sundays camp had proper cut out blocks of ice around the tent ... It looked very cool and worked a treat. 

Monday was more hoofing up to the cabin (weather was coming in) .... This was all fine except the cabin was perched at the top of a ledge 😀 .... 

Absolutely no worries, well until the tipping point was reached and i was left looking like a hampster attempting to walk on a stuck ferris wheel 😀. So crampons were put on and the final hoofing up the hill was completed. 

Monday was stunning ...a 'quick' stiletto transverse over to mount etna I was thankful that i didnt break a leg or twist a knee 😀😀😀. I love skiing but this 'nordic skiing' is on a different realm. But soon it was out with the mountaineering gear and up wee  Etna  😀 it was stunning and my first snowy climb to a wee windy peak. 

The return back to the hut (yes a rope snory there or two) left me chuckling most of the way back ... Similarities of a beginner heading down a black run after fresh snow dump were quite uncanny 😀😀. I should say, i can ski ... Just not nordic ski with soft boots - if you have not tried it - you must .... It has a fantastic comedy value - especially if you are watching!! 😀😀😳😀 Luckily before i had my doubts of nordic skiing to the south pole i was assured that it was a gentle slope up and mainly flat to the pole.... No down hill or tranversing the hills 😀. Nonetheless there was a question of whether a (novice or not) nordic skiier would usually ski where we were. 😀😀 however, deepends are good places and by Wednesday ... I managed to keep upright and ski all the way down the glacier with only one fall 😀😀😀

So chuffed. 

It was so stunning ... I just didnt want to go back down 😬

(Photo by Andy Coles Photogrphy)

A great week that fitted my humour ... It was filled with supportive 'well dones and you are doing so well (so that gave me a good quantifier of my level!! that made me giggle!!) 

So now its just the flight back before i head out to the south pole 😀😀 in a couple of weeks.... Its just too exciting for words 😀

Many thanks go to Andy Coles - a fab guide-  who was extremely patient especially with guide books, skidoos, falls and trees 😊... He has set me up extremely nicely for the next trip and future mountaineering 😀...... With a bit of British best thrown in 😀😀😀