There are a few rare days in a Minnesota winter, right after a fresh snow, that are my favorite. I'll get my light racing cross country skis and head to one of the groomed ski areas. With a kick and push of my poles I am gliding effortlessly, my ski tips slicing through a blanket of white.

In Antarctica, snow while present in an infinite variety of shapes, forms and densities is usually hard and unforgiving, which makes today all the more unusual.

For better or worse, I could only find the word 'creamy' to describe the morning snow. We skied along for hours across a nearly flat, flowing vastness of snow. There was us, the sky and snow and conditions so perfect that I'm having a hard time finding words to describe them.

Then, when we thought it couldn't get better, a full sundog appeared behind us. I continue to be surprised by Antarctica.

What was not unusual was the quick shift in cloud cover turning our 'cream' into 'pea soup'. I like a lot of things, but whiteouts are not on that list. For most of the afternoon, we stumbled our way south covering a record 13.1 nautical miles.

Dong says, 'we covered a tremendous distanced and I am pleased.' Bill adds, 'it really is starting to feel like an adventure.'

The coutdown to Copenhagen continues and the big news is that Obama and other world leaders at the APEC summit last weekend, took off the table the idea that Copenhagen would lead to a legally binding agreement. This makes public what people following the process have been afraid of, that expectations for an agreement at Copenhagen appear to be off the table. The best hope now is that the process is split into two tracks. At Copenhagen, agree to emissions reductions targets and commitments for developed countries to fund clean technology in the developing world. And then next year, agree upon the legally binding instrument that would enforce the commitments made in Copenhagen.

In mean time, please call your senators and urge them to save the Clean Air Act -- the entire Clean Air Act. Personal calls from constituents make a big difference. Call (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators' office, or visit https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/getLocal.jsp to look up your senators' contact information.

Image: Antarctic sun dog.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.savethepoles.com

For information about guided Antarctic expeditions, please visit http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/

For information about Bill Hanlon's foundation, please visit www.basichealthinternational.org

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