Position: Lat: 86.475 South Long: 86.32 West
Miles covered: 47
Total miles covered: 412
Miles to the South Pole: 211.5
Thursday 30th December: They covered 14 miles. The route was very steep and the ice very sticky (like walking on marshmallows). This was the first day that Pom's mask did not freeze up inside (Zoe dressed her!). They also said farewell to the Thiel Mountains.
Friday 31st December: Another 14 mile day, again very steep and very, very sticky snow. They passed through a very eerie place where the snow would move beneath them, accompanied by loud booms (rather like Concorde going over). The team think it was a minor Antarctic earthquake. [See Glaciologist's note]
Saturday 1st January: This was a short day, specifically shortened to retune themselves to Patriot Hills time in readiness for their re-supply. They travelled 8 miles across very flat terrain with no sun. Zoe, Pom and Rosie were all suffering from weary limbs and aching backs and arms and Ann was also suffering from a twisted ankle; they were in need of a good rest.
Sunday 2nd January: A rest day, spent waiting for the re-supply to come in.
Monday 3rd January: The re-supply arrived at 06:30 and the pulks were loaded up. It was very cloudy to start with then it brightened up into a very warm day. They managed 11 miles in 8 hours before making camp. The terrain remains very flat, but with soft and sticky snow (difficult for pulling sledges).
They are almost 2/3rds of the way to the South Pole!
The re-supply went off very well and the team now have everything they need for the push to the Pole. They have
taken on board an extra 20 days food and fuel (giving them a total of 24/25 days), together with mail, new gloves, spare parts, letters, 60 B&H for Zoe and a pint of Whiskey Mack for them all to celebrate with. They managed to offload all their rubbish, bits of broken kit and their first set of underwear onto the plane, together with a special package containing letters, diaries, camera film and video cassettes (this will be back via
the first available plane out of Patriot Hills).
Caroline, Ann, Zoe. Pom and Rosie asked that their thanks be passed on to everyone for their cards, letters and messages which all arrived in the re-supply; these mean a huge amount to the girls and are being read and re-read time and time again by all of them.
During the next call, Rosie will be give her next report, entitled 'Nutrition (Fat Chat)'.
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