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PROGRESS
DAY CHART
DAY
49: UNBELIEVEABLE COLD...
Sat, 11 Mar 2006 // 23:05
Quote of the Day:
'Obviously my nose is frozen but
it will heal...'
DATA LOG
Latest position : N87°37'44' E90°37'09'
Distance to go: 265km
Temperature: -40°C (without windchill)
Wind: Northwesterly
Ice drift: Southwards
Days of food left: 20
Average daily distance required: 14km
Update from Mike: 'I'm calling
later than usual because our days are now 26 hours long.
This means that you'll be getting the report 2 hours later
everyday.
It's unbelievably cold! Today the temperatures were even
lower than yesterday -40°C! The winds were still
northwesterly in the morning but luckily for us they
dropped throughout the day. The temperatures are expected
to pick up again tomorrow (we are hoping so at least.).
Normally at this time of year the temperatures are around
-25° to -28°C so -40°C is extremely low. Obviously my
nose is frozen but it will heal. My fingers are suffering
as well but they'll be okay.
We walked our twelve hours today in and out of the pack
ice and even with a southerly drift we managed to cover a
distance of 25kms. Borge and I are beginning to feel like
robots, one foot after the other, hour after hour after
hour. One thing is for sure, we have great satisfaction to
see the Pole getting closer and closer. Only 265 kms to
go!
Borge and I work well together. Our combination of
knowledge and experience makes for a very good team.
Regards to you all!'
Mike
DAY
48: COLDEST DAY SO FAR...
Fri, 10 Mar 2006 // 21:27
Quote of the Day:
'You would think that the
sledges would slide well when it is cold like this, but in
fact, they don't! The snow becomes dry and it feels like
we are dragging the sledges over sandpaper...'
DATA LOG
Latest position : N87°24'25' E90°35'39'
Distance to go: 290km
Temperature: -38°C (without windchill)
Wind: Northwesterly 4m/s (9mph)
Ice drift: Southwards 0.3km/hr
Days of food left: 21
Average daily distance required: 14km
Update from Mike: 'We were once
again in very cold temperatures today. We walked 12 hours
in -38° C (without windchill) and a northwesterly wind
(about 4m/s) blowing right into our faces. My fingers can
only take 8 hours in these conditions and after that they
really start to suffer. They eventually came right once I
got back into the tent and was able to warm them up around
a hot cup of soup. We did well under these conditions as
we managed to advance 23kms even with a southerly drift of
0.3 km/hr.
You would think that the sledges would slide well when it
is cold like this, but in fact, they don't! The snow
becomes dry and it feels like we are dragging the sledges
over sandpaper. There was also a very big accumulation of
snow that we had to work our way though. The only
advantage in these cold temperatures is that all the open
water is frozen and it is normally thick enough to walk
over.
Borge is fixing the skins on his skis this evening. They
are wearing out wear the ski in bending.
Hope tomorrow will be a warmer day!'
Mike
For latest news on Mike and Borge go to: www.mikehornnorthpole.com
WEB LINKS
Sign up for updates on Mike's progress on his North Pole
Winter Expedition at www.mikehornnorthpole.com
Click
here to view Mike & Borge's latest position on
Google Earth. To download Google Earth click
here ( PC and Mac OS X 10.4 only).
For further information on Mike Horn contact:
Josie Robinson
T: +44 (0)870 063 0210
E: josie.robinson@ocgroup.com
MIKE HORN PERSONAL DETAILS
Age: 39
Nationality: South African resides Switzerland
Status: Married to Cathy, two children aged 11 and 12
MIKE HORN'S PHILOSOPHY:
'The drive to go beyond our physical, mental and
spiritual limits is an internal attitude that transcends
global borders. It tests our personal limits and opens
the way for new levels of achievement in all aspects of
life. This philosophy is the driving force behind every
endeavour.
Although I find myself in the most extreme
circumstances, I always use caution. My philosophical
approach is to live the endeavour as an expression of my
being. Alone, immersed in nature, with no creature
comforts, to surpass the limits imposed by man and
nature itself. With faith and determination, one can
embody the purest expression of this philosophy.'
ARCTIC
AND ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION LINKS:
Ernest
Shackleton
Roald
Amundsen
Scott
of the Antarctic
Nelson
Kruschandl: We're with you all the way.
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