Aches and pains

7th December
A very brief dispatch today as battery power is very low. We charge the battery by using a petrol powered generator, but that generator can’t be used when there is blowing snow … and we have had blowing snow a plenty all of last night and all day today!  

The same snow that is stopping us charging the laptop is also stopping us from carrying on our haul back to Patriot Hills. Wind chill temperatures are below -30 deg C and the drifting snow increases the chance of any exposed skin suffering from frostnip.

Our enforced tent stay is a real shame as the distance we covered yesterday (15.4 km) left us 32.5km to cover in two days in order to make it back into camp on time – that was easily possible with the team spirit we have. With a good surface and no uphill left, the only thing that could stop us was bad weather, and that’s what we’ve got. Now it looks like we’re going to need a lift back to camp tomorrow so that we can finish our science projects on the 9th and fly out on the 10th.

At least today has given us a chance to catch up on eating and resting. Pulling a pulk tires just about every bit of you:

• your legs are tired from providing the forward thrust
• the harness tires out your shoulders, hips and stomach muscles
• and using the poles tires out your arms.

On the first day of pulk hauling I couldn’t work out why my legs didn’t hurt especially, I now realise that it’s because all of me hurts! Despite the aches I would rather have pulled for the six hours we were planning than be confined to quarters.