North Pole Speed Record

One of Those Days

Posted on 29^th March, 2008 By Ben Saunders ~ 23 comments

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I started out in a very chipper mood this morning, and cranked out a fair old distance in my first 90 minutes. Slumped in my harness, wrists dangling from ski poles, I turned and looked back, revelling in my sledge-hauling prowess. Something was missing, something usually strapped to the top of my sledge. My shotgun! Argh!

I'd slam-dunked the sledge off some hefty pressure ridges this morning, and it must have fallen off. For a split-second I considered carrying on without it (and relying perhaps on my skills of persuasion if I did bump into a bear) before realising I'd have to go back and get it. I packed a flask of drink and my satphone into my little backpack, unhitched the sledge, and scooted back along my tracks. I felt a bit like a space-walking astronaut, disconnected from my mothership.

Ah well, I thought, at least I'm alone. No one will ever know what a numpty I am. Seconds later, a bright yellow aeroplane buzzed overhead, a Canadian military Twin Otter. It was low enough for me to see faces in the windows - probably the scientists I'd met at Eureka, coming to see how I was getting on.

And here I was skiing at high speed, with no sledge, in completely the wrong direction. They must have thought I'd lost the plot. I waved casually, but I don't think they were convinced, and circled back again for another look at the loony Englishman. I sheepishly realised I had no idea how to signal to a plane, and wondered if I should write something in the snow. And then I spotted the gun. Phew.

When I got back to the sledge, I managed to rip a gaping hole in my sleeping bag as I stowed the shotgun. Minutes later, the sky clouded over, the sun disappeared, it started snowing and I couldn't see a thing. It was like travelling through a demolished city, covered in a million tons of icing sugar. In thick fog. And after pitching the tent in a white-out this evening, I find I'm camped at a wonky angle with my feet up in the air, my iPAQ battery has died, my ripped sleeping bag is full of ice, and I've spilt powdered energy drink all over the floor.

If this website might have been inspiring you to plan your own expedition on the Arctic Ocean, I urge you to reconsider, and perhaps to consider some form of counselling.

In all seriousness, I'm taking a perverse joy in rolling with the punches this camping trip is throwing my way. I was hoping to crack 83'30 today, but the shotgun episode scuppered that plan. Hopefully I'll be able to see where I'm going tomorrow. I can feel a ten-miler coming on...

(I'm using nautical miles up here, which are a wee bit longer than statute miles at 1.852km. My daily distances represent progress north only - with all the zig-zagging I'm doing, today's 6.5nm probably took 10nm of skiing to achieve.)

Today is dedicated to John Ridgway. Into the mist!

Comments

1. 

   By Andrew Fox on 30^th March, 2008

   Be strong.
   Remember- you are loved.

2. 

   By Tom Gurnee on 30^th March, 2008

   Hey ya, Ben!  Hang in there mate.  You knew it wasn’t going to be easy and this is just the universe’s way of making sure you want it bad enough.  Has to throw you a few curveballs in the beginning, you know - can’t just hand you the record on a silver platter.  Don’t worry though; you’ll make it.  And hey, you’ve just added your first, “DOH!” story to the lot.  It’ll all make for good laughs at the pub when all is said and done.

   We’re all with ya!

3. 

   By Anthony Goddard on 30^th March, 2008

   Well Ben, it could have been worse, lucky you didn’t need the gun on the way back.... Just remember the exotic bad luck the russians had! Compared to that, this is still smooth sailing (skiing?)
   On the bright side, must have been nice to ski without the sledge for a little while (albeit in the wrong direction) and laugh at what the canadians must have been thinking :)
   Best of luck for tomorrow.

4. 

   By Oliver Corbett on 30^th March, 2008

   Ben - you have an astonishing ability to keep calm and keep your sense of humour!  Sounds like a shocker, but keep going - we are all rooting for you.  Oliver

5. 

   By Mark Linder on 30^th March, 2008

   Forget the expedition. I’m starting to think you have a career in stand-up comedy. These trips give you all new material which you can try out on us every day!

   You have a seriously good mental attitude, Ben.

6. 

   By Cas on 30^th March, 2008

   Well so much seems to have wrong today , that you are due a few days without any hiccups...Btw how are you uploading all this to the website witt he the iPAQ not haveing any battery.

   Glad you went back and found the shotgun...somehow I’m not convinced even you ( and I’m not doubting your communication skills )could persuade a hungry bear not to attack you using words and hand waving alone

   Battle on

   Cas

7. 

   By Max Milligan on 30^th March, 2008

   Hi Ben,

   Tom Gurnee has started a thread on aSW and we are watching you with interest, amusement and pride.

   I had no idea you wrote so well; can’t find any books by you on google, so let me know if you are planning one about your jaunts or if you have a book deal sorted.

   all bestest

   Max

8. 

   By Paul Bower on 30^th March, 2008

   Ben

   Onward & upward but not backward ! - better day tomorrow, always look forward.

   Paul

9. 

   By Moki Kokoris on 30^th March, 2008

   Ben, your timing is impeccable. I am so impressed that you performed the “misplacing and retrieving” of your shotgun BEFORE the whiteout. What planning! Now that you’ve gotten that over with, you can check that off your “to do” list.

   And here’s a reminder in case you’ve forgotten the rule:
   The number of bear encounters should always be proportional to the number of pairs of underwear you brought along. Is that clear?

   Here’s to slightly less “exciting” days ahead!

10. 

    By Simon Jones on 30^th March, 2008

    And there was me feeling bummed that I had to go back to the shops and buy the eggs I forgot to get the first time!

    Keep going Ben! We’re all willing you on mate! You’re still inspiring us all!

11. 

    By Nikki on 30^th March, 2008

    Don’t look back Ben!  Keep pressing on!  Unless you forget something.  :-) I hope today brings you clear skies and flat ice!

12. 

    By Caz on 30^th March, 2008

    Hiya, Ben.

    Simon Jones pointed me in your direction… I thought I’d drop by and see what this was all about.  Wow.  When you take on a challenge, you really stoke it up!  :-)

    Sounds like you’ve got the moxie to find the acme - I’ll be cheering you on from my decidedly warmer vantage point down here in Southern Ontario.

    By the way, welcome to Canada.  ;-)

13. 

    By Alison Lowndes on 30^th March, 2008

    I’m late .. was catching up with one of our volunteers in Manchester last night, got to sleep late, woke up late .. forgot British Summertime had moved the clocks on .. which incidentally was the reason for the shotgun thing !
    When you see the Twin Otter crew you can explain that you were simply adjusting the record for daylight savings by double backing on yourself for half an hour (& enjoying the free-skiing).
    Ben .. only a guy like you could snag his sleeping bag, fill it with ice, go to sleep in it .. and get a book deal already !!
    Can’t wait to hear from you tomorrow. Its such a beautiful sunny day down here at 54.06,-1.69, hope you’re seeing your share too. Till Manyana ...

14. 

    By Sean Chapple on 30^th March, 2008

    Outstanding - The shotgun incident I mean!! It happens to us all at some stage, great progress considering the detour. In Taunton the sun is shining (for a change of late). Be Safe, Be Fast. Sean

15. 

    By Nicholas Rourke on 30^th March, 2008

    My roommate and I are a couple of college students in the U.S. who stumbled across this blog, and now we’re fastidious readers.  Keep up the great work, man.  We’re cheering for you.

16. 

    By RObb on 30^th March, 2008

    sounds like a challenging day, but it must have felt nice to be sliding along the snow with the freedom of no sled!

    Keep your chin up, there’s a ton of us pulling for you Ben :)

17. 

    By Kerry Anley on 30^th March, 2008

    Gosh Ben - Cant believe you are actually there and writing so beautifully.  Bet you are sitting in a 5 star hotel somewhere hee hee hee!! :-)You are sorely missed and I am astounded by your bravery, strength and wit !   Your IT’s must have been doddle compared to this.  Looks like I will need to go harder next time :-)Will be in touch in few days, Kerry

18. 

    By Great Aunty Marion, Uncle John, Alan, Jane and Wil on 30^th March, 2008

    Best wishes from all the family - oh and don’t forget anything tomorrow!

19. 

    By Rich...! on 30^th March, 2008

    Hey bro,

    Sounds like fun times. Hurry home, I’ve got a hot chick lined up for you.

    Take care of yourself,
    Rich...!

20. 

    By karah on 30^th March, 2008

    I love that you used “scuppered” in a sentence.

21. 

    By eddie bowman on 30^th March, 2008

    Ben for a man of your mental chemistry this is just a tiny sideshow. I feel a 12 miler tomorrow

22. 

    By Marc Tyler on 31^st March, 2008

    I think, like every reader here, we’re humbled at your immeasurable tenacity. We’re all behind you Ben and I hope that sleeping bag has a chance to dry out in the Arctic air. I live in Korea now and it’s with a tremendous sense of pride that I tell my wife and Korean friends that to me you are the embodiment of all that was and still is great about England. A wonderful adventure is unfolding before us.......... Marc.

23. 

    By gelay on 14^th April, 2008

    wow!!! What a man!!!

Day’s Statistics ~ 29/03/08