North Pole Speed Record

The Waiting Game

Posted on 20^th March, 2008 By Ben Saunders ~ 31 comments

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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.

The great news is that both I, and my 200kg or so of excess baggage have all arrived here at the edge of the world in one piece, and the weather and ice conditions are looking great. I pride myself on being pragmatic and phlegmatic when it comes to this expedition malarkey, but it's difficult not to imagine fate playing a hand in how well things have worked out.

We had a long meeting yesterday with Wayne Davidson, Resolute's resident weatherman, and a pre-eminent authority on the Arctic Ocean's weather and ice conditions. He assured us that conditions this year for expeditions on the Canadian side were freakishly good, but that the long term prognosis for the state of the Arctic pack as a whole was horrendously bad. "You may be one of the last," he shouted as I stepped out of his porch into the midday glare. The goosebumps lasted the entire walk home.

I'll write more tonight, but we're borrowing some skidoos and heading off into the bay to take some photographs now. The windchill is in the minus fifties, and I can't tell you how good it feels to be back.

Comments

1. 

   By Alison Lowndes on 20^th March, 2008

   Figured you’d say something about it feeling “good to be back” .. guess the condition of the pack is even more of a reason to get going .. the awareness you’ll create from this may just make a few more sit up and take notice.
   Thinking of you x

2. 

   By Alison Lowndes on 20^th March, 2008

   Whats on your MP3 player?
   Answering will cover my next question, can you reply to comments?

3. 

   By Ed Manning on 20^th March, 2008

   Just happened to stumble onto your blog.  I just want to say “Wow”.  What a courageous and exciting thing you are doing.  I will definitely be back to follow your journey!

4. 

   By Hartmut on 20^th March, 2008

   good speed and have fun :)

   PS: I hope you are not one of the last, there is a lot of people out there who want to walk to the pole too some time

5. 

   By Ben Saunders on 21^st March, 2008

   Alison - I can reply at the moment (from my laptop, in my lovely warm hotel!) but not from the ice, where I’m basically sending back a one-way burst (well, trickle more like) of data.

   As for the music, I’m taking eight gigabytes, split between two iRiver MP3 players (they take lithium AAA batteries which are great in the cold, and they’re easy to use with gloves on). Everything from 80’s cheese to progressive house, with the single proviso that it’s cheerful and upbeat…

6. 

   By Andrew Fox on 21^st March, 2008

   Ben - last time I got involved in this posting I kicked off a daft row about your postcode. I was supposed to shut the hell up after that, but your standing on the threshold of history has unsurprisingly left me in awe, and I want to wish you all the very best. I don’t know if you are brave, bored, or just pissed off - but you are passionate and are brilliantly illuminating the spirit that so many of us had given up on. When you get back home, I hope you get the keys to all England.

7. 

   By Cameron M. Smith on 21^st March, 2008

   Good luck, Ben, from here in blustery Portland, Oregon. Last winter I was told by Indians on the north shore of Alaska to watch out for “Immanjarok” while I was out on the ice...Immanjarok are ‘little people’ according to legend, they make strange lights out on the ice to trick you! Keep your eyes peeled. Cheers, Cameron

8. 

   By Chris Ganeff on 21^st March, 2008

   Is there any chance at all of seeing other people once you start?
   Good luck, I hope you don’t have to swim too much.

9. 

   By Brooke on 21^st March, 2008

   A friend of mine once said it doesn’t matter who gets there first, it’s who gets there last…

   Panama, Ben! Good luck.

10. 

    By Alison Lowndes on 21^st March, 2008

    Excellent !! ... can almost imagine you tracking over the ice to Fame, KC & The Sunshine Band, Wham & the Bangles (LOL .. video of you doing the Walk Like An Egyptian thing pulling the sled)??

    So when’s the big push ?

11. 

    By coda on 21^st March, 2008

    GO BEN! Looking forward to following your progress again… it’s good to have you back in the way I remember. ;) (And lovely site this!)

12. 

    By lewro on 21^st March, 2008

    Very exciting project Ben. Very inspiring. Good luck and safe journey! I will be following you steps true your blog. But the way, cool web site. Well done guys from erskine.

13. 

    By Rhys, Jenny, Ffion and Iwan on 21^st March, 2008

    All the best from Cornwall. Hope things go well. Will follow your progress.

14. 

    By denise on 21^st March, 2008

    Best wishes on a successful journey!  Just a curious E&Y;professional looking forward to reading about your progress in the coming weeks.  I admire your courage, bravery, and obvious ability to withstand the cold.  Take care.

15. 

    By KAPIL AGGARWAL on 21^st March, 2008

    Dear Ben,

    It was quite inspiring to see the challenge you are taking up.  Good luck and praying for your success.

    Regards,
    Kapil Aggarwal
    Ernst & Young, India

16. 

    By Rhys on 21^st March, 2008

    How crap do you make me feel? Just driven 3/4 mile to get fish and chips for our tea. Grovelled home on the mtb at 6mph into a howling gale yesterday. Go get it and just maybe I’ll pull my finger out :-)

17. 

    By Keith Grimwade on 21^st March, 2008

    Good luck and best wishes from the Geographical Association - we will be following you all the way!  This coming Thursday, 27th March, is our annual conference dinner - I will give everyone an update and if you have a message ‘one year on’ I’ll deliver it personally.  Have a great time.  Keith Grimwade, Past President.  (For fellow bloggers, Ben is our Honorary Vice President - there are 6,000 of us willing Ben on!)

18. 

    By Sean Chapple on 21^st March, 2008

    I will be followiing your progress with interest. It is not getting any easier up there and I hope you have your dry suit packed! Stay Safe, Enjoy the Journey and of course Be Fast

19. 

    By Simon Jones on 22^nd March, 2008

    Ah yes, progressive house. You’ll be needing that at times I bet. Once again Ben you are about to embark on a journy most people could only ever hope to read about. An adventure awaits! Good luck mate!

20. 

    By Alison Lowndes on 22^nd March, 2008

    So .. you’re now skiing & swimming to the top of the world while I’m off to a rave in the middle of Leeds, of all things !!
    Happy Easter, Ben x

21. 

    By Karen Tynes on 22^nd March, 2008

    Ben,
    Best of luck and God’s Speed...and I do mean speed!

    You are in my prayers.

22. 

    By Ed Dowding on 22^nd March, 2008

    Brilliant! Back in the game at last, you slacker!

23. 

    By Sue Ringle on 22^nd March, 2008

    Good luck Ben with your expedition.  Glad to hear that all the flights I booked for you, got you there in one piece.  Enjoy this wonderful experience.

    Sue
    Temp from Ernst & YOung

24. 

    By Angie Wright on 22^nd March, 2008

    Hi Ben,

    Good luck with your huge adventure. We will be following your progress with admiration. Take care.

    Angie Wright

25. 

    By Lara Bowman ( Eddie's daughter) on 22^nd March, 2008

    I think you’re a nutter, but what you’re doing is kind of amazing!

26. 

    By Tallulah Stobart (Eddie's wife's god-daughter) on 22^nd March, 2008

    Won’t it be kinda cold?!! And wont you get a bit tired?! I could never do it so good luck and keep going!!!

27. 

    By Jemima Stobart ( Eddie's wife's god-daughter's lit on 22^nd March, 2008

    you are seriously brave i could never do it!!!!!!!

28. 

    By ben on 22^nd March, 2008

    I’m only nine, but in 10 years i’m going to beat your time!

29. 

    By Jemima Stobart ( Eddie's wife's god-daughter's lit on 22^nd March, 2008

    good luck just keep going and feel proud when u finish!!!
    u will be fine

30. 

    By Hilton on 22^nd March, 2008

    Glad it all came together mate. We’re all rooting for you and definitely convinced the record is yours for the taking. Bon chance.

31. 

    By Ben Saunders on 23^rd March, 2008

    Thanks everyone - we’re just doing a bit of last-minute packing, then I’ll write my last blog entry from the comfort of my hotel room…

    Today is the first time I’ve felt real butterflies in my stomach, but right now I’m feeling raring to go :)