rest evening

Ahhhhh sooo lovely. This pm I had a rest, ate a tonne of food!?!, had a snooze, caught up with blog and well, just relaxed and didn't ski!

Suns out, nil wind and well - what a great finish to the 'interesting' day (yep... another story to tell).

The South Pole is now only a few days away, its definitely getting colder with a wee bit more ice to pull off the face mask and coat. But it is really exciting to be so close.

This remote solo trip has among many other things already taught me that even though I enjoy and yes, need solo time; family and friends (new and old) are very important people in my life. Without their company, supportive messages and support of this and other adventures I have been on, I probably would have found it harder.... a lot harder.

However one of the benefits of having this 'solo time' is that it has given me more time to think about things such as where I want to take my life next, what i do and reflect on habits (good and bad). One thing that I have thought about a great deal is a 'great' habit of trying to distance myself from those I care about in times when I become unsure of the outcome - as a way to protect them (and in part I) but what has been a very lovely realisation is that they seem to know that too and will wait.... patiently with understanding.... but it doesnt make it right. I am sorry. Something to work on eh?

There is so much that I want to say about this remote solo time - it has been a comfort but equally it has pushed so many boundaries, fears but also reaffirmed many things too. The last couple of years have been the amazing - (and worst too), but I have met (and virtually met) some of the most wonderful, interesting and lovely people on this planet; and I am truely grateful. I know I have said this before.... but if you cant say the same or something similar - then you probably need some time out too.


Oh, and did you know you can even get Polar thigh on your knee?? I didn't realise that you could. Funniest of things.

My dinner....

This am - a light covering of snow hoars... very beautiful.

To the Pole and back....

Its been a very tough 3 or so days but hoping that things will now start to change. .... i am now on the Pole straight. Today I needed to decide whether I was going to go for the return or stop at the Pole (I am not there yet).
Apart from the last few days, I have remained at a pace that means that I can/ am fit/ have enough weight to go for the return -the main purpose of this journey.

Of course, with the two/three week delay in Punta and UG, the full return is unlikely, so I will be looking at the mileage. How far can I get back, how much can my body cope with? It would be very easy to walk away, say thats it as I get to the pole - or perhaps I should say IF I get to Pole. I say this because earlier today I was at a point that I didn't think I was going to make it to my current location let alone Pole (yep, another story). Of course, it would be great to complete the full return ...... but lets see what happens with my body, the weather and conditions.

In short, just like the PCT - I set out with lots of unknowns, apprehensions, questions, what ifs and doubts but came back with a whole new bank of memories, sets of skills, ideas, loves, friends, more memories and experiences. Its the same here... and That is the important bit. Life is too short not to try something new... who knows what may happen......
So, guess thats my decision - The return it is.... .

Just in the 87th degree (i started at 80 and pole is at 90 degrees). 87 degree is known for sastrugi, sastrugi and more sastrugi..... guess the sastrugi heaven has started then .....
just waiting for more white out days ...... i reckon it will hit just as i am near the back end of the degree where the sastrugi is at its worse..... bets please.....

Thank you Hazel.... I got your message.... uber sweet, thank you xx

So, i was a little late getting out of bed. Nae matter.... it was blue sky and the sun was out.... my lateness would be made up.
Well, that would have been true ... except as i put on my skies.... i noticed a quick moving cloud on the ground moving my way.
Yep, freezing fog to entertain me... i even had snow hoars on my compass strap on. Everything had a layer of ice!! For most of the rest of the day, I had the continued joy of no or poor visibility - the photo was taken after a few hours of no sky. This strip of blue gave me a reference point to ski to.
Apparently, today was meant to be 'blue sky and nil wind'..... err clearly not in my world!!!

This is a great picture of the hill that I am currently pulling my sled and myself up. Currently I have reached just under 2000m. Still the hard degrees of Sastrugi 87 and 88 (sastrugi is the size of buses etc).
Desperate for a day off and a shower .... day 35 .... time is increasingly too short to do the return ..... but the fat lady (who is losing pounds by the day) hasn't sung just yet. Need to get through 87 and 88 degrees first.....

Making tracks all day ...... lovely fresh snow... soft, sticky and pulk attracting ..... soft squashy snow!!! Thats the result of three days of white out... or was it four??

Although it looks lovely... it does make pulling the sled harder and just skiing too (as usually its up hill!).

Hoping that good weather will start..... especially as I start to prepare for the maybe return journey (more about that in due course).

I have really loved reading some of the messages that have been passed through. You have all made my day. Stephen - even the lovely Doc thinks I am bonkers .... but the freeze dried food IS amazing...but i spent time cycling around the uk trying out different combos - so yes, they are good.
Mr Drew - always the supportive - hows the park ?? xxx
Karen - there have been many times that I have thought of the boxing class - as I try to 'find the rhythm' .... and yes, day 30 means that I hope i have lost a stone already. Still got some more to lose though
Veronica - thank you for your support - very welcomed after a hard day today (although no change there).
Nikki - aaaawwweeeew a m&s beef wellington - i have spent the last 5 days firstly hoping that the lovely and amazing fuel engineers would be at theils again cause this time last year they cooked the most amazing roast and beer!!! - sadly they weren't.... gutted. What I would do now for a beef wellington or roast.....
thank you lewis - whenever i see a comment from you I cant help but smile with happy reflections.
Dada - hmmm we may have a competition arising ... out here there arent any smells.... but I can smell myself - no shower for a month, no change of clothes and with 10hours of hard exercise a day ........ coupled with that my bed is my kitchen, living room and dining room ... so a few crumbs around
Hey Caroline - where are you in the world now?

The cloud rolling in ... the fresh snow dropped within these clouds make skiing even harder!! Joy!! No to mention that you cant see anything and cant gauge depth - this means that you can drop very quickly ... or the pulk can fun fun fun

Morning - no sleep due to wind gusting all night.... no shower for a month ..... i look how I felt that time ...

I have just arrived at the half way point to the pole. Its so very close... i need to be at the South Pole by 31st December if there is any chance of me having time to make the return journey - 300nm to go. I am fine, fit and well ... and even after many days without tunes, mentally strong (even though I am unlikely to want to cross-country ski for some months, oh and why is it i find myself in a more rigid routine than ever before!!! - my hell!!)

However, its all about timing and i have to say, if there wasnt that 2-3 week delay in Punta and at Union Glacier ... i would be very confident at this time. So, its in the lap of the gods....... i will continue ... plodding along at a healthy pace so that I can make the return journey (there is no point racing and skiing night and day - as that wont let me return). I really hate this time pressure though... i am not competitive with myself, another or in this case TIME!!! I just want to complete this challenge ...

P.s my treat tonight was to have x2 freeze dried dinners... uber full (one was plenty) ..... but yum oh so good!! Great to over indulge ... just this once

I have three 24 hour flasks. Means that I dont have to cook in the evening ... i get in, eat my ramin and pour water over my freeze dried food. I have to say The freezed dried dinners are stunning and I even (from about 7pm) start dreaming of them. They are that tasty!

my kitchen

Setting a new trend aka morning look. Welcome to my kitchen. Just boiling some water for the day.

Starting to get messages through - thank you everyone for sticking with this and its great to know that folks are interested.
If I start with your message Sue - you want to hear about the mundane? I have to say, it is all very very mundane and that is half the challenge - to get up every morning and ski a distance no matter what the weather and how tired you feel. Taking the day off because the blisters are playing up, you're tired, the wind is howling and adding to the effort of dragging a pulk (and yourself) across the strugi is not an option (although i did swap my routine a couple of days ago because i hadnt slept during the night - but it them made for a very very long ski!
The strugi is super crazy, and although I have already climbed over 4000ft, stepping up, over and down these strugi .... the elevation climbed must be x10000 more!
But what does my day look like? Lets start with the am.
My alarm goes off at 6am and its up (sit up in the sleeping bag and moan that it really cant be that time again) and slip into the ski wear. There is definitely an art to it... changing in a sleeping bag, half asleep and making sure everything is the right side out. Depending on what i hear (wind howling/ blowing snow/silence/feel the sun on the tent) - will depend on what layers i will put on.
When dressed and boots are on, i start with breakfast and heating up the days water. I will take some photos .....

Its amazing what a few minutes does. After pitching the tent for the daily check in with base, a great cup of coffee (instant 3 in 1), a quick flit with meditation.... my world became very clear.
Blind bambi on skies was no more .... and it was back to the norm (less blue skies).

16nm later ..... it turned out to be a great session.

The last couple of days have been mentally quite tough .... drum roll the sarcasm....
To date, I have had winds that have blown me over, antarctica cold temperatures, ice and even frostbite but that is all expected and ok... and I have to say, it has been great to test out my equipment in the cold night temps as it will mean that it should stand the test of south pole temps (ok bar the fuel containers that clearly didn't!!).

This year is very different to last year when I was out here. We had tonnes and tonnes of snow, white outs and our sleds/pulks were buried a few times. This meant soft snow undersled and in short, the snow would fill in many of the sustrugi holes, pits and sharp icy edges. This meant (as i have now come to realise), although there were plenty of whiteouts- the skies could feel the ups and downs of the soft, rounded sustrugi and respond appropriately.

Enter..... this year. Hard icy, no snow filling the gaps razor sharp sustrugi that rise up and away sharply that have many lines/channels that often finds the left ski in one channel, the right ski in another and the sled choosing its own channel that drops away steeply, thus allowing the sled to slide sideways and overturn at the bottom of the stustrugi channel... now that would be fine if the sled was acting out its own stunts in its own adventure movie!! Instead what the above means in reality is that I find myself reinacting Bambi on skies!! Add a whiteout .... yep .... suddenly i do a great impression of blind Bambi on skies!!!! Very messy and very slow!!

Miles and miles of this stuff. All hidden by amount of snow last year. This year the wind has blown all the snow away......

A day pulling and slipping over this. Slow and hard work!

Great day skiing. Weather is changeable but blue sky all the way. This am I panicked over my second stove not working .... only to find that I could fix it. Such a relief for sure!!

Its very bumpy (although not sure it is vey clear in this picture). It means finding a rhythm and pattern is difficult/ impossible. Great weather though.

I am very sorry for the delayed and lacking of blog this time. In short, I have been just trying to eat, sleep and ski and there hasnt been any time to do anything else.

I have now changed my routine again. In short it was just too cold to ski at night. I am afraid i am very happy to sacrifice the blue sky for less ice, wind and temp. By the time i got in (set up my tent) i was breaking open my coats and boots which is not a good look.

I have to say, my ninja skirt is the business and although I have now have the first signs of polar thigh - it was (I believe) because I made the fatal mistake of going outside without my ninja skirt!

The last two days have been appearing to be skiing up hill and into wind - this means that horisons are short and never ending.... the worst part of the ski.

However, the last couple of days have been uneventful and just been great to ski solo. I do love Antarctica - it s so beautiful and forever changing. Although the mountains in the distance don't change - thats about all. This is a very different experience to 9 months ago.

So, its slow, plodding onwards and upwards....

Farewell to the plane . A magical moment.

update

Well its been five days in (although i am working through nights) and I have to say.....I was right! It IS the year of the wind. Wooohooo and with the early season low temps it makes for a very interesting night ski. Currently I am seeing the same level (ish) of ice, at 4am, as I did at the pole. Braising takes on a new meaning.
My continued luck still runs strong - so far I have a story about the cooker, sastrugi, hills, neck, gps, glove and more recently fuel canisters. Darn it, its only day 5 - what happened to things coming in 3's?
No matter, my focus is on the end point and sadly after the scenario with the fuel canisters today racing unsupported to the pole is out. Yes, a few expletives followed closely by tears and then a fit of the giggles counting myself lucky that I didn't smoke .... (cause with my luck I would have then had to have contend with a massive fire in the middle of antarctica!!).
Like life, I probably should have given up on it years ago, opting for a quiet unadventurous life but darn it ... i have said that I am going to the pole and back .... and that I will. Never has doing it for Cystic Fibrosis and Teach Africa has become more of a need than ever before.

Clearly there is a focus here on perseverance, against all odds and heck it is only 5 days in!! My luck wont change, barriers will continue to rise...... but my eye firmly stays on the final point.

Thor and no name keith ... wearing the poppy with pride.
We are still waiting for a weather window. Hoping to fly Tuesday. Weather is looking good for then for a couple of days. Thinking blue skies!

the Gnomes are here!!!

The 'Knomes' arrived in Union Glacier ...... twas the finniest thing that I have seen ... waiting for a weather window.

Definately arrived at Union Glacier. Waiting now for the next weather window. There is tonnes of snow so it looks like a re run of last year! Oh dear!

So, if you are reading this, it means that I have just been given the 30min call to leave by plane to Antarctica and then to the start point - Hercules Inlet. From there I will be skiing solo, unsupported and unassisted to the South Pole (yep that's right I have to pull 45 days worth of kit, fuel and food in my sled). The first half of the journey 730 miles are all up hill but at the end I will pick up a resupply at the pole and ski back to the start. If/ when I make it to the pole I will be the 5thish woman in the world and If/ when I complete the return journey, I will be the first.


If its anything like last year, there will be a great rush to the airport before we wait an eternity to board. However, unlike last year, I am unlikely to be heading back from a pub at 3.30amish.
What I know as I write this post in advance that this is super exciting,  but this year, there is also a healthy set of nerves too.


This is it... Time to fly over to the base camp/ Union Glacier and as quickly as I can turn my pulk around and book my plane/flight to the start line. I have to say, booking my own plane is another dream and is something that I am unlikely to experience again. If I can turn my pulk around on the same day and fly to the start line, then that would be fantastic.  With these delays, time is short and every day counts out there.

Probably by now you will appreciated why getting my bags quickly and making sure that I got on the first flight was so important. These expected delays, if added to the second or third flight out there would have had significant / even more impact, enough to shorten the journey to just one way.
From this point communication will not be so detailed. Although I will be able to update my blog which will automatically post onto Facebook and Twitter, this will include a picture or two. Although I won't be able to personally reply to posts, the UK based support team who  will monitor and oversee my blog and Facebook etc will be able to pass messages back at key points.

I have to say, I am honoured and thankful to have you with me, there have been many people just as excited about this journey as I am. It will be tough, I will have bad days and good days and I will share this with you as I go along. Please don't worry if I have a tough day or maybe two.... The next day will always be better.
But for now my focus is #tothepoleandback in aid of Cystic fibrosis https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/em-tam-kelty1 and Teach Africa https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/em-tam-kelty2



Everything is in order.... it's time to go......xx

It all starts to just fall into place.....

After a good nights sleep, I awoke with the news that ALE had my bags, they all had arrived and yes, indeed they were on the same plane as I was (in part). I was taken to the warehouse and finally reunited with my kit. Such a great moment.

I spent a few hours making the last final checks and completed the last of the little jobs that were outstanding (such as putting the runners on my sled, making sure everything could fit on my sled (as if it had shrunk on its flight over!!) and importantly making sure that all was there, in one piece and I hadn't forgotten anything (including Thor and no name).

 

I put up the tent making sure it was all in order, this will be my home for the next  just under 3 months.

By six o'clock it was done, repacked ready for the next flight to Antarctica. News is that storms are in but everyone is hoping that by Sunday the engineers will be able to start to clear the blue ice runway.... Something that takes an age.  Last year, whilst we were enjoying a beer or two in the evening and just heading to bed, in would walk the engineers having a quick break before heading out again for another stint at clearing it. These guys are amazing and work round the clock because they want us to come just as much as we want to be there.

 


This morning, I had my weigh in.... Such a big moment ( I have to say I was a wee bit nervous that my kit would go over the 170kg allowance.... But it was not to be.... My newly named 'Thor' got involved in the weigh in too.  Thor will be joining me on this trip as he will be auctioned off at a dinner in November in aid of the Michelle Judd memorial fund     that supports outdoor pursuits for youngsters. I can't wait to hear how much was raised cause every pound counts on this trip...

michelle judd memorial fund

 


Now that the weigh in is over,  all I can do is wait for my ride over to the ice. It's close....I can feel it.... Soon my journey of a life time will be here and I can't wait 😀😀😀😀

Round one!!

round one done!

I decided to fly through the night upto Santiago with the aim of retrieving my bags that had been reported to have been on a truck, in Punta, then back in Santiago, then on a plane ..... Flying up and actually eyeballing my kit was, what I thought was to be my only option and priority. Santiago was the last real location that we knew it had been.

I was prepared to even get my kit at Santiago (last known location) and drive it 2000miles back to Punta myself (that would have taken 36 hours, that is if it was there),  if it was on a truck driving down to Punta .... I would have got in a car and chased it. After all, this is two years training, a lifetime dream since the age of 5 and I have two charities that need me to get to the pole and back. There was no way that I was prepared to sit back and wait to see what happens and with the support of  Cystic fibrosis Trust, Teach Africa, old and new friends on Facebook supporting in every way possible I was not prepared to give up.

I was on the 2am flight, arrived after 5am and after a few bumping around to find the right office and person .... The wonderful and extremely helpful guy in LATAM international was a complete star. Using google translate, his great English and contacts within LATAM.... He was able to guide me up to the boss of all bosses. Like a rollercoaster ride the positives and negatives were plenty but finally I got the thumbs up as they, due to the urgent nature (this is a life dream and huge investment) just wanted me and my kit to be on a plane so that I can start my world record and life dream. Even now, as I write this, thinking of when the boss of all bosses looked me in the eyes and signalled the thumb up sign (he had to do it twice) .... I just broke down into tears... What a moment. I really can't thank all of those involved in this process who have supported through phone calls, tweets, emails, sharing... The support has been overwhelming... But together we did it.

So the kit has now arrived in Punta, and ALE are in the process of picking it up. All I can say, this is wayyyyyy too much drama for me and I hope things now settle and become straight forward. Of course the next hurdle/ game is the Antarctica weather Windows ... Already (luckily for me) the plane has already been delayed 2 days.... Weather permitting. this is because there is only an ice runway in Antarctica and beyond that no runways at all. Therefore a good eye, amazing pilot, blue sky, nil winds and good contrast are needed to land.  Below is a picture of the plane on the blue ice runway. It literally is ice ... And when you walk around on it it is like an ice rink..... A bumpy one...

Looking out:

News flash - the fight starts here!!

Probably the worst case senario.... my kit was meant to arrive today but at 5.15 I was told that my expedition kit is still in Santiago!
I have not given up, too much has been invested in this and so I am off to the airport and will be flying up to Sandiago with a view that I will hire a van and drive it back.
Still the issue about customs and getting it from them, so any support that folks reading this can give would be really appreciated.
If this is the first time you have read this, I was meant to fly to Antarctica tomorrow to complete a solo expedition of 1400 miles to the South Pole and back. I would have been the 5 th woman in the world to ski solo to the South Pole and the 1st woman to ski back. This is a life dream since the age of 5 and it's going down the pan due to miscommunication and strikes.
History in the making but currently held back by a strike in Santiago.

Time to go.... I need to get on that plane......wish me luck.
Emma Tamsin Kelty



Keep up to date on Facebook : username emmatamsinkelty1
Find the links on www.emmakelty.com

And ...... Staggering to the start line/ plane.....

I have to say, after a very smooth and straight forward flight over (apart from the checking of my 'very busy' tech bag), the morning after I was met with the blowing news. My kit, that was meant to arrive two weeks before, was still stuck in Santiago due to custom strikes that had already been over a week long.

This was probably the least expected but possibly the most frustrating news to be delivered. I am sure that my face was a picture as the news sunk in and the potential impact/ knock on effect hit me. Was this to be the start of a repeat of last year? Keep calm, don't stress over what you can't change, it will work out, keep positive are all things that I would say but when you are in it, have spent months, years and expense to get to this point - all the above is hard to maintain - measured that I am.

The reason is first hand and goes hand in hand with the realities of an expedition at the bottom of the world, a place that doesn't have runways as we know it and completely weather dependant. Last year, I had a three week delay in Punta due to no flying to Antarctica due to weather and then a further one week delay to get to the start line that doesn't even have a blue ice runway.

Taking that information, if I miss the first flight on Thursday (weather permitting) then I will have to wait until the next flight on the 8th November (weather permitting). If therefore I get on the 8th flight and it takes off on that day, I would have lost 6 days. But that's 80 days less 6 days, then there is the wait to get weather clearance to fly to the start line not to mention the needed shake out that was expected in the 5 days in Punta ....So, Thats 80 less 10, 12, 15? Who knows, but for each day that passes/ delayed it just ups my mileage per day.... And there are only so many miles that can be skied in a day especially when 80mph winds howl, whiteouts and with the harsh changing weather. As this was always going to be a push ... I need everyday on the ice..... In short this is not good news. Although in reality, I know my stubbornness will rise to the challenge and if I need to do 12,13,14 hour days, then so be it, but it's an added risk that I would prefer not to take.

Although my kit is in Punta, it is stuck in customs who are still on strike..... The flight is tomorrow.... Although there maybe some delay due to weather... So the cat and mouse game starts. But as much as I tell myself to do all of the above... It's consuming my life at the moment, and I have to say, with my life so straight forward, simple and stress free at home.... This is not appreciated at all.... Measured that I am...

In short this causes delays, less time skiing, frantic sorting out my kit on the ice and loss of weight before I get on the ice. Not good at all.

I'm ready 

Just one more week!

Thats all, just one more week!! Time is zipping by although I do see this as a blessing as I just want to get out there!
Over the past few days things have become a little exciting. Radio interviews with BBC Surrey, Eagle and I even got an email from Sir Ran Fiennes! Sir Rans good wishes would have been filled with a full understanding of my up coming trip.

Earlier this week I handed over my facebook accounts, web etc to my brother who will be overseeing the pages and making sure that my updates from Antarctica make it to my facebook page (emmatamsinkelty1) as well as twitter.
I also met up with a school friend (from primary) who I hadnt seen for too many years... dont put off until tomorrow what you can do today springs to mind.  It really is daft that it took so long to meet again.

So the only last few things I need to do now is hand over to my house mate, the uk support team, say  a few more farewells (my weakness) and attend the RFHall one last time on Friday evening.  Ok, so there are other things I am doing but... one week is not long at all! 😀

Baggage away!!

This was one of the big count downs .... the date that my baggage was to be picked up and taken to the airport.

Its happened along with yesterdays fixing of the strap and the putting in the 'go faster stripes' aka in aid of Cystic Fibrosis and Teach Africa logos.

Its close now.... just two weeks away....

I was ready to burst 2 months ago ..... so with just two weeks to go ... I just hope I can contain the excitement and nerves that are building on a daily basis.  

Breaking News!!!!

I have competition!! There is another solo female (from Sweden) doing the return journey!! Aka the 1460 miles to the South Pole and back.

Suddenly there is another dimention added to this jaunt... exciting times for sure 😀😀

How much weight??!!!

Interestingly I spend quite a lot of time talking about my weight gain (and clearly the embarrassment and fustration of). These days bending over to pick something up requires effort, sqatting down and standing upis tedious   and running quite frankly is now a no go, for fear of damaging my knees especially being so close to the start line. I wont even mention the blubber wobble with every step let alone bounce! 

As time has gone on... You seethe doubting Thomas's who look and ponder about how such a tubby girl could be going for a world first.... Clearly she cant surely be fit enough, doing enough exercise as why else is she putting on weight rather than what everyone else is doing .... Taking it off!

Of course this is a very different view for those in the know who check in and hope that I am putting on enough  weight!

Big portions, high fat, high carb and eating more than I burn is a tedious process- but if i want to make the return journey - it is something I need to do and fortunately I have been able to increase over   several months rather than last year where I had just two months! 

But let me show you using pictures: 

September 2015 2-3 months before I skiied all the way to the south pole: I was under 7 stone ( 98lbs):

October 2015: 9 stone (126lb) I had been eating like a horse to put on the pounds - 2 stone in fact....

December 2015: look at the tyres 😀👏 11.5 stone (161lb) another 2.5 stone! Result! I put on a total of 4.5 stone....

I arrived at the pole 1st feb 2016 which for my next journey will only be the half way mark: this picture only shows the face ... But a good inidcation. Clearly i had only enough reserves on me to do the ski to the pole 730 miles. But in October 2016 I will be doubling the distance and over doubling the weight I will have to pull in the sled. 

June 2016: already putting on the pounds in preparation for the South Pole return trip.

Ok, this is me being brave (supplying a recent photo) ... But I need this weight..... : 1460 miles to the pole and back unsupported means that I will lose 5ish stone .... 

Although my legs can push 300kg many times and lift 92.5kg clearly the strength is there underneath. This additional

weight will help me pull the full sled 80-100kg up the very steep exit out of the start line, provide insulation and reserves for the 80 day trip in the most extreme and brutal place in the world- Antarctica. I still have over 1/2 stone to go to get to where I want ..... And its hard especially with the exercise.

My exercise has changed and will

change again.... Recently I have swapped running with boxing and its tough...imagine boxing, sit ups and burpees to the point of fail wrapped up in a heavy thick duvet (especially in this heat).... Knowing that everyday it will get harder as more weight is put on. Interestingly though my additional

near 5 stone body weight jacket that I have on, will help develop my muscle too .... As for each pressup, sit up,leg raises, raised leg sit ups or squat ..... In addition to the metal weights that you can see .... I carry and have to lift an additional 70lb or 5 stone already on my body.

Luckily I know that this is temporary..... And by the end of January 2017 it will be gone. ... But all in the name of this upcoming challenge.....  

Yes, I am focused and yes..... The end point is my focus. 

Facebook is a wonderful thing....

Truly it is ..... 

Tonight whilst browsing the posts I came across this again: 

I look back at this .... And its a great feeling ..... 

There are many motivational posts on facebook, each with a unique interpretation but dependant on where you are in life. I love reading them .... However i do take time to acknowledge the stage at which i read them. Is it hope? convincing? or the after life..... 

What I know, here and now, I feel very loved and surrounded by people who ...... And i feel the luckiest lady alive .... In the last couple of years, i have met the most amazing people (around the world) ... And spoken with the most inspirational folk (beyond friends) who quite frankly repaired my very broken/shattered view on humanity.... So much so, I read the above post and said ..... 'Thats my life now.... And yes, I am living it' 😀 and without putting a finer point on it ..... Puts the 'interesting' people in a very small pot!! 😀😀

6 weeks left

... And that is all it is! 6 weeks until I fly to Chili and weather permitting, 7 weeks until I fly to the start line. 

My task is to ski, pulling a sled/pulk with all of my supplies, 730 miles up to the South Pole. At the South Pole, I will pick up a resupply and attempt to ski back to the start line.... On my own /solo. So a total of 1460 miles. I will burn 9000 calories approx a day but will carry just under 6000 so will lose a little bit of weight as i do this. The weather is extreme/brutal and will get progressivly colder as i move closer to the pole (last year the thermometer broke at -50).   

However I really cant wait and so excited (and nervous) that I am literally going to burst as it is so close now. 

There is still a lot more faffing to be done, weights to be lifted and lists to be worked through. 

 I am starting to feel the closeness of this journey - as yesterday I had my first 'well if i dont see you before - good luck' -

So the goodbyes start (yep my weakness) ..... 

One became ....

Nights..... All for the love of music! I have now been over to Oslo, Norway -three times already this year but never stopped to check out the local events, music nor culture.

Initially I booked one night... but I started to investigate the music and art and darn it ... Would you believe it ..... there appeared to be a music festival on in Oslo. Happy days! 

A night at the Opera house, 

a day wandering the art galleries, 

another at the  converted bank for a bit of Beethoven with an unbearable twist, 

more ski boots thank you Dag @ Piteraq and a visit to the Fran museum 

and an evening at the Oslo concert hall 

enjoying the stunning 1920's music ... I have to say.. Thats a pretty good unison clapping event 😀. The weather was great, the tram and bus system worked a treat and I am delighted that my new boots fit well.

But home I return ... Travelling through the night .... Seemless. 

The count down is not dragging

Far from it .... Another week has gone by and I am nearing the '6 weeks left' mark that is rapidly  approaching. Soon, I will be standing on the start line of a 1400 mile solo journey to the South Pole and back! 

The nerves have definately kicked in not helped by the previously squared away items that are now apprearing to not to be so... What I am dealling with is the attention to detail... and trying to ensure that when my pulk and gear is flown to Chili, it is together, ready and working. Already it seems there is work to be done in Chili which is now a high risk as if it goes wrong then my expedition is in jeopardy. Crazy days. 

On the other hand, the rest of the preparations are going well and coming together - even the putting on weight ready for the haul. I have to say, I know I have to put on this weight as I will losing about 1lb a day and if i am out there for 80 days- thats a lot of weight to come off- but equally moving and exercising with the increased weight brings back my days of being size 22 - and the massive amount of work that was needed to get the weight off! I guess i know that when I come back from the South Pole I should be back to my regular weight. 

Excitingly it seems as though I have broken through my barrier with the weights after lifting 92.5kg today with legs fully in tact and knowing that I could, even after a pt session and 30 odd lifts ... lifted more weight ... More times. 

What I know is that so much investment has been put into this and that is a worry. The last time i invested so much of me into what I considered to be important, well lets just say, I am waiting for it to just be pulled from under my feet. I suspect that this is nerves talking but..... 

However, Another fantastic development is the local support that appears to be slowly growing - People who I meet are super keen and so interested in this journey and task. Although I have to say the worldwide support is growing amazingly by the day - it does make it a little unreal at the moment.

Anyway, i need to get back to it ....  

Time is flying! Less than 2 months..

A week has gone by already and it was only meant to be a couple of days pit stop to sort out a few bits and pieces! 

However as I have entered into the final 2 month count down, I just need to pull everthing together and get it sorted. I just cant believe that in less that 2 months I will be skiing all the way to the South Pole and back on my own, all 1460miles of it. I really cant wait! The excitement has doubled since the last time but so has the healthy nerves!! 

But alas preparation is the key, so the sewing machine has come out and peg bags, facemasks, tent bag and snow skirts (ok so I havent finished yet) are all coming together and the sewing machine is still in one piece... even after a great boxing session.  

Ok, so the third mask went a little wonky.... 

But who is going to see it (ok, apart from you!!).

 I think I may have linked my blog with facebook.... *Drum roll*.... Which means when I am on the ice, my blog and pictures will be sent directly to the Facebook  page (www.facebook.com/emmatamsinkelty1). Now this may not be a blessing .... We shall see...