Hollinger in Antarctica

How many steps do you take in 5 hours of man hauling and 15.4kms? I calculated that I take about four steps, or ‘swooshs’ of my skis per metre so that works out that I have taken 61,600 steps in the Horseshoe Valley today. It’s amazing what mindless sums your brain does as you walk in the vast white landscape. I walk along in my own little world. My hood is up, my goggles and face mask are on and I can drift off thinking about anything I want. Today it was food, a shower, how much longer, how much further, what would I buy for Xmas presents, what meal am I most looking forward to when I get back, how are my Y10s behaving themselves in 211 at the moment, how are my Y13s and can they remember what a nunatak is? The only break from my dream world was when I had the occasional check over my shoulder to make sure there was someone behind me, or when I stumbled into the pulk of the person in front. On a couple of occasions Carl said “Ruth!”, I said “What?” and he said “We are walking across Antarctica” and it was then that I had to ask myself which is the reality – home or Antarctica? It sometimes feels like I’m living in a dream here. There were some great displays of facial frosting today but I kept my face well and truly covered up thanks to Carolyn’s Darth Vadar mask. The UV light triggers the virus responsible for cold sores and both my lips are badly blistered and painful. The 15.4kms we covered was a massive distance for virgin Antarctic explorers, especially given the weight we are pulling behind us and we are 15.4 kms closer to Patriot Hills where we will fly from (weather permitting) in four days.  Happy birthday to Edith 13CM, Amelia 13MF, Kathryn 13CM, Ashton 12KH, Sophie 12RK, Emma 9RD and James 8BE