November 23, 2018
Hercules Inlet
I have arrived at Hercules Inlet, the edge of the Antarctic continent and am now camped roughly 1.5 miles North of my actual â??starting pointâ??. The snow is soft here and I am not looking forward to tomorrowâ??s slog.
I am nervous and there is a pit in my stomach, not from uncertainty or unknown, but rather from the fact that I am all too aware of the effort and struggle that will go into potentially achieving my goal of setting the speed record to the South Pole. I also understand the potential pitfalls as well as overall pressure. This is a personal goal, but I also have a bigger mission and responsibility. Iâ??m not complaining by any means just simply stating facts. For any big undertaking, the physical journey is only one part of a bigger whole.
There are four other teams camped in close vicinity to my small tent. A young Frenchman, two Brits, a Canadian and two Scandinavian team. It seems like the start of the bad joke but for now it is comforting to know I am not totally alone.
I have been focused on this trip for nearly a year so being here feels like a huge success within itself. I like putting myself in uncertain situations and I am hopeful about my progress.
Of course, Antarctica is completely stunning as well. After several days of whiteout and snow, the skies cleared revealing a crystal blue sky and stunning peaks in the distance. Walking toward on of the camp tents in Union Glacier earlier, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the sight of the wind blowing snow in fractal-like patterns in the surrounding peaks. This place. Antarctica never ceases to amaze.
Overall, I am pleased with my packing and gear. I have a lot of food as I am planning on skiing long hours. Still, when it was all said and done my sled weighed 145 pounds. Not light, but right. :) This now is my whole life and I am ready for the snow... and wind... and...
Image: Selfie in front of the Twin Otter.
I am nervous and there is a pit in my stomach, not from uncertainty or unknown, but rather from the fact that I am all too aware of the effort and struggle that will go into potentially achieving my goal of setting the speed record to the South Pole. I also understand the potential pitfalls as well as overall pressure. This is a personal goal, but I also have a bigger mission and responsibility. Iâ??m not complaining by any means just simply stating facts. For any big undertaking, the physical journey is only one part of a bigger whole.
There are four other teams camped in close vicinity to my small tent. A young Frenchman, two Brits, a Canadian and two Scandinavian team. It seems like the start of the bad joke but for now it is comforting to know I am not totally alone.
I have been focused on this trip for nearly a year so being here feels like a huge success within itself. I like putting myself in uncertain situations and I am hopeful about my progress.
Of course, Antarctica is completely stunning as well. After several days of whiteout and snow, the skies cleared revealing a crystal blue sky and stunning peaks in the distance. Walking toward on of the camp tents in Union Glacier earlier, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the sight of the wind blowing snow in fractal-like patterns in the surrounding peaks. This place. Antarctica never ceases to amaze.
Overall, I am pleased with my packing and gear. I have a lot of food as I am planning on skiing long hours. Still, when it was all said and done my sled weighed 145 pounds. Not light, but right. :) This now is my whole life and I am ready for the snow... and wind... and...
Image: Selfie in front of the Twin Otter.