Start: 1110
Weather: Sunny with a cold wind.
So here we are on our second day of going around the ‘water feature’. We have spent most of yesterday and all of today going in the wrong direction just to get around this ice-canyon, which is a huge worry. We have at least another 30km of this type of terrain and we cannot really afford to waste any time. Plus the longer the pulks are on this type of terrain, the more damaged they will become.
Iain and Mark are already struggling as their pulks are damaged the most – the cracks in the front are taking in so much snow that the pulks are becoming heavier and heavier. As a result their pulks are no longer gliding across the snow (what little there is), but burrowing into it – another cause for concern.
I don’t know why we stopped for camp tonight when and where we did – we just did.
Once we had set up camp, Mark and I went on a recce to find the way ahead for tomorrow. Good news (of sorts) just 2km more in the wrong direction, then we can start heading east again.
Upon our return, we climbed into Matt’s tent to tell the guys what we had found. Whilst Mark was feeding back our findings, Iain passed me the sat phone – on it was a message from my Mum, which read:
“lee, sorry to hear that your expedition has not worked out. have a safe journey back, love mum x”
I was really confused and angry that such a decision had been made behind my back. When I spoke to the group about this, Alistair reassured me that no decision had been made – he had just told Ems that we would more than likely have to head back. I believed what he said – Alistair is my friend and he wouldn’t lie to me.
This led to us having the discussion that I knew deep down we would need to have sooner or later.
Our primary objective – to ski across the icecap to Kulusuk – was, given the terrain, beyond us. We all agreed on this.
Our secondary objective – to ski to the Dye 2 station – was a cause for further discussion…
Camp: N 67° 4’ 29·0” W 49° 13’ 11·7”
Alt: 1112 m
Distance: 5·09 km
Finish: 1620
Weather: Sunny with a cold wind.
So here we are on our second day of going around the ‘water feature’. We have spent most of yesterday and all of today going in the wrong direction just to get around this ice-canyon, which is a huge worry. We have at least another 30km of this type of terrain and we cannot really afford to waste any time. Plus the longer the pulks are on this type of terrain, the more damaged they will become.
Iain and Mark are already struggling as their pulks are damaged the most – the cracks in the front are taking in so much snow that the pulks are becoming heavier and heavier. As a result their pulks are no longer gliding across the snow (what little there is), but burrowing into it – another cause for concern.
I don’t know why we stopped for camp tonight when and where we did – we just did.
Once we had set up camp, Mark and I went on a recce to find the way ahead for tomorrow. Good news (of sorts) just 2km more in the wrong direction, then we can start heading east again.
Upon our return, we climbed into Matt’s tent to tell the guys what we had found. Whilst Mark was feeding back our findings, Iain passed me the sat phone – on it was a message from my Mum, which read:
“lee, sorry to hear that your expedition has not worked out. have a safe journey back, love mum x”
I was really confused and angry that such a decision had been made behind my back. When I spoke to the group about this, Alistair reassured me that no decision had been made – he had just told Ems that we would more than likely have to head back. I believed what he said – Alistair is my friend and he wouldn’t lie to me.
This led to us having the discussion that I knew deep down we would need to have sooner or later.
Our primary objective – to ski across the icecap to Kulusuk – was, given the terrain, beyond us. We all agreed on this.
Our secondary objective – to ski to the Dye 2 station – was a cause for further discussion…
Camp: N 67° 4’ 29·0” W 49° 13’ 11·7”
Alt: 1112 m
Distance: 5·09 km
Finish: 1620
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