Journal
A daily journal published from the arctic circle
-
Chilling Out
“Chill, not ill, man,” was the catchphrase of a particularly laid-back, didgeridoo-playing schoolfriend of my brother, many years ago, and it still makes me smile now. And it’s true of course; on any decent polar expedition, there are so many critical factors that are utterly beyond your control (the temperature, the windspeed, the direction the ice is drifting) that you have to be able to stop worrying about what you can’t change, and only focus on what you can.
Posted on 26th March ~ 21 comments ~ Continue reading »
-
Hurry Up and Wait
Well, I’m still in Eureka, which is probably good news for my mum as I’ll be tucked up under a duvet tonight rather than shivering in my tent, but rather disappointing for the rest of you logging on for a first installment of derring-do on the Arctic Ocean…
Posted on 25th March ~ 13 comments ~ Continue reading »
-
Eureka!
Well, I’m not where I thought I’d be this evening. We took off as planned from Resolute Bay first thing this morning, but the tiny Twin Otter plane that was due to carry me up to Ward Hunt Island (the start point for my expedition) developed a mechanical problem as we stopped to refuel at a small weather station called Eureka, and I’m still sat here now!
Posted on 24th March ~ 11 comments ~ Continue reading »
-
Game On
I had my first case of pre-match nerves mid-way through this afternoon, brought on in part by the fact that the only other person trying to get to the North Pole this spring, Hannah McKeand, is currently sat in her tent waiting for a pick-up flight after injuring her back and shoulder. So I’ll have 5.4 million square miles (an area bigger than America) pretty much to myself for the next month.
Posted on 23rd March ~ 17 comments ~ Continue reading »
-
The Waiting Game
We’ve been in Resolute Bay since Monday night, and I’m sorry it’s taken me a while to send a progress report. I’ll be blogging daily from the ice once the expedition starts, but life recently has been so hectic, with everything from weighing carbohydrate powders to testing satellite phones, that I haven’t had time to write.
Posted on 20th March ~ 31 comments ~ Continue reading »
- Page 3 of 4 pages « First < 1 2 3 4 >
Stay Informed
Journal Archives
By Date:
Complete Archive
Browse complete journal archive
Daily Photos
About this journal
This journal is coming to you from the high Arctic, where Ben Saunders is attempting to set a new world speed record from Ward Hunt Island to the Geographic North Pole. The current record was set in 2005 by a guided team using dog sleds and numerous re-supplies in a time of 36 days 22 hours. Ben’s expedition will be solo and unsupported and on foot. Read more about the expedition and Ben