The ice was a bit better (i.e. flatter) today, but in keeping with the spirit of things round here, the Arctic gave me a vicious headwind to contend with instead.
This meant skiing with my fur-lined hood up all day which, whil it certainly makes you look like a proper explorer (especially when you get some good snot icicles going), actually gets quite claustrophobic. By mid-morning I was struggling to keep my hands warm enough and resorted to putting on my comedy-sized pair of jumbo outer mittens, specially made by Graham Ogle at Brenig. They look like a cross between something Mike Tyson would wear, and something the BFG might use to get a roast turkey out of the oven, but they certainly did the trick, and it's probably thanks to Graham that I'm not typing this with my nose...
I was buzzed by the little yellow plane again this morning which, though it might be reassuring to my mum, rather detracts from the feeling of being the only human being in the last great wilderness on earth. At least I wasn't doing anything embarrassing this morning, though the plane's effortless soaring and wheeling seemed to mock my tortoise-like progress through the pack ice.
Food! Breakfast kicks off with a hot Myoplex Deluxe protein shake (chocolate or vanilla) and a handful of pills (B-vitamins, flaxseed oil, that sort of thing) then freeze-dried porridge with strawberries (yum!) and a half-litre of Perpetuem energy drink.
During the day I stop every 60-90 minutes and have 330ml of High5 carbohydrate drink and a custom-made freeze-dried energy bar from Science in Sport. At one of the breaks I swap an energy bar for some salami and a fun-size Mars Bar (more for variety than anything nutritional).
Once I get in the tent and rev the stove up, I have 500ml of hot High5 energy drink, another handful of pills (multi-vitamin, antioxidant, L-glutamine, glucosamine and a few other bits and bobs), 50g of Green & Blacks chocolate, a Myoplex HP60 protein bar, a Wholebake 9Bar, then about 45 mins later a 800-calorie freeze-dried meal (chicken curry, mostly) from expeditionfoods.com, to which I add 40g of ghee to take it up to 1,160 calories. In all, that's around 5,850 calories per day. There's not much variety, but that doesn't bother me up here - it's like putting fuel in a car.
Physically I'm in good shape so far. Both my heels are blistered, so I've taped 'em up, and I've got a few muscular aches and pains - my lower back makes me feel like an old man planting an allotment when I switch from sledge harness to snow shovel at the end of each day - but nothing I didn't expect. Kit-wise, nothing critical has exploded or snapped yet, but I've done lots of sewing (which probably loses me about ten macho points).
That's all folks. Today is dedicated to Martin Hartley, expedition photographer extraordinare and all-round top bloke.
Comments
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By Simon Jones on 01st April, 2008
Okay “snot icicles” isn’t something one pictures when we think of intrepid men like yourself doing things like walking to the north pole unassisted. But no worries on losing matcho points for sewing. You’re walking to the frikkin North Pole dude! I think you’ve got matcho points like Bill gates got money! :-)
Keep going mate!
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By Tom Gurnee on 01st April, 2008
Great info on the calorie intake, Ben! Thanks!
I’d like to know, at what time of the day are you snapping the photos of the sun just over the horizon? What time do you depart, what time (provided you’ve had decent weather) are you calling it a day?
Cheers!
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By Tom Gurnee on 01st April, 2008
Rats! Second to Simon again!
;-)
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By Marc Tyler on 01st April, 2008
Very interested in sports nutrition these days, so thanks for the dietary update. I think food tastes so much better when taken ‘alfresco’ and starving hungry. Though I do wonder whether melting ‘snot icicles’ make it taste better or worse ? Enjoy those calories Ben.
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By Paul Bower on 01st April, 2008
Ben
Didn’t get to give that all important information everyone should have when out in thw snow but you see everytime - Don’t boil the yellow snow and I would also makesure in your particular case that you have your gun handy if you see some!!
All the best mate, keep going. -
By Cas on 01st April, 2008
Do you get any poppadoms with the curry :-).
You mentioned the front of the skies coming appart earlier on. Did you manage to fix that ?
Wishing you a flatish day tomorrow, with tail wind....
Cas
Btw the wetaher isnt much better here
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By oliver corbett on 01st April, 2008
Ben - glad things are looking a smudge easier. We are off to 1996 Mag Pole next week and reading your reports is helping to get my head in the right place. Rock on - hope the MP3 player is still powered up! Oliver
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By Nick Hancock on 01st April, 2008
Just been reading an article about you, sent to me by a friend in Italy, in a magazine called ‘Intelligent Life’. All in all, very balanced for once you’ll be pleased to hear. Link for you all below:
http://moreintelligentlife.com/node/730
An apt quote:
‘Anyone who wishes to fulfil his dreams should not listen to others; he should not shy away from the risks linked with the realisation of every dream; he must be prepared to give each one of his dreams a chance to succeed.’ - Reinhold MessnerSorry to hear about the blisters, hope you’ve got some Compeed.
Nick
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By caro on 01st April, 2008
glad to hear the ice is flatter. wishing you lots of boring flatness for the next few days…
love,
caro -
By Alison Lowndes on 01st April, 2008
Had to Google “ghee” I’m afraid (check out the polar non-geek) but its fascinating to get facts like this. LMAO @ “looking like a proper explorer” .. think we simply need a shot in a few days of how the beard’s coming along !
Also hope you’ve taken a shot of the BFG mittens .. for the kids of course .. but am still chuckling away at visualising you waving at the plane and them waving back & coming round again to get a closer look and realising you’d gouged P **S OFF into the thigh-deep snow.Tomorrow’s mission (actually tonight) is to beat Simon J’s record and become the “First Female Comment-er” on Day 7’s entry!
This comment is dedicated to the guy with a plethora of macho points, didn’t you know sewing is a triple-pointer! Sleep soundly, Ben & Ski far!
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By Paul M. Watson on 01st April, 2008
Sewing in sub-zero conditions while *walking* to the North Pole and totting a shotgun for fending off polar bears is about as macho as you can get. You could sing the lumberjack song while sewing and still not loose macho points.
All the way, Ben!
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By Fearghal O'Nuallain on 01st April, 2008
I love the description of your mittens.
I was wondering about the broken kit too, how did you fix the zipper on your jacket?
LOL regarding Alison’s comment about ghee. Funnily enough, it has a less than savory meaning in Dublin parlance which I can’t mention here. I hope your google search didn’t unearth that too Alison?
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By Alison Lowndes on 01st April, 2008
LOL with Fearghal .. I can imagine the Dublin version has little to do with Ayurvedic medicine .. incidentally Ben, you should be aware that you’re increasing your virility with every 40g addition, not to mention balancing your vata & pitta at the same time. Must add here that Wikipedia says you need to put it onto your heels as its said to prevent blisters and scarring if applied quickly to affected skin !!
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By Paul Bower on 01st April, 2008
Virility! towards the end of the wallk the Polar Bear had better watchout!
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By Sean Chapple on 01st April, 2008
Sounds like your having a life of luxury!
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By Moki Kokoris on 02nd April, 2008
See what you started, Ben? There seems to be a bit of competition amongst your website addicts who are now racing to stake their claims of being the first to post a daily comment. To me, however, your dispatches have become worthy substitutes for my daily morning jolt of caffeine....
Glad the ice is a bit better now, so here’s to smooth skiing for awhile!
P.S. Happy Birthday to Ben’s mum (April 2, if memory serves). At least I’ll be the first to post my best wishes to her who has brought into this world someone she has every right to be most proud of.....
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By Emma Lee on 02nd April, 2008
Avidly reading your daily blogs Ben, the highlight of my days in the City.
Glad to see those gruelling Brecon Beacons miles are now paying off and helping you battle through the ice fields!Huge luck for the rest of the journey, and meanwhile we will try and keep Mr Ward on the safe and narrow for you whilst he is back in Blighty!
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By Greta on 02nd April, 2008
Colly introduced your site and i had to check it out. The topography is a nice touch. When I read your entries, I could easily feel the cold wind and your energy to get to where you’re headed. For what its worth...Go! and let us see the North in your eyes and words=)…
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By RObb on 02nd April, 2008
sounds like you must have repaired your sleeping bag if you’ve been sewing!
nothing to be ashamed of there :)
Good to hear progress is going well, see ya tomorrow Ben!
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By Andy Ward on 02nd April, 2008
Quick update from Ben via his satellite phone on some of the questions above..
Ben repaired his sleeping bag with his sowing kit, which consists of a huge needle designed for repairing sails and his trusty dental floss!
The ski tips have been repaired with a combination of superglue and duct tape. If they need any further repairs he can screw them together. The tips get damaged because they are continually slammed into blocks of ice as Ben climbs over the huge pressure ridges.
Ben will replace the zip on his jacket with one from his outer bodywarmer, again this requires the use of his macho sewing kit.
This is all done in his tent at night after he has devoured his chicken curry (minus the poppadoms..)
Thanks for all the support.
Andy (Expedition Manager)
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By Alison Lowndes on 02nd April, 2008
Have you seen any flying penguins yet, Ben ? you’ll have to take my word for it till you get back but the BBC say they’ve been discovered down in the Antarctic http:// tinyurl.com/ 37rxo2 (folks, take the spaces out before you use the link)
P.S. I can still send this to people west of Vancouver, LA and further south etc ... just ! -
By Camilla on 02nd April, 2008
stumbled on your site by accident a few days prior to the new one. i must say, i am absolutely captivated by your everyday accounts-addicted even! i too have become an avid morning reader, along with the rest of the “B.S.” fan club, just one of many, and look forward to each post. i actually thought of you yesterday while watching our own bizarre march snow fall here in utah and thought ,"if my ass is freezing, i can only imagine how yours must feel!” ....along with the rest of your unmentionables :)
here’s to keeping them warm!
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By acne treatment reviews on 03rd June, 2008
a journey to the Arctic? well good luck. i’m sure its gonna be fun
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By tanning lotion reviews on 17th June, 2008
i can understand the windchill in the Arctic. Just here in canada, we freeze to death in winter
Day’s Statistics ~ 01/04/08
| Position | N83.41.83 W074.15.24 |
|---|---|
| Daily Distance | 6.47nm |
| Total Distance | 35.91nm |
| Distance To Go | 378.2nm |
| Traveling Time | 9hrs |
| Conditions | Clear, moderate wind from NE. Rubble ice with some multi-year pans. |
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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