We are whittling away at our goal. Step by step. We were especially pleased with today's step. A new record for us! 16.6 nautical miles.

It was another blue bird day in Antarctica -crystal clear but with a biting wind. Still, its hard to be in a bad mood when your in such an amazing place. Today was just another of many where we spend hours gawking at the vastness of this landscape. We are so small. This place is so big.

Routine has taken over the majority of our lives. Every motion and action has been completed many times before. Putting on our boots. Taking off our boots. Melting snow. Setting up the tent; taking it down. I find myself taking my skis off in exactly the same order (left then right) at each break. Today, they were off without me even realizing it.

Of course, there is a reason for all this repetition: saving energy. With so much of our day prescripted, we have ample time to ask big questions. Like why are we here? Why ski to the South Pole? Of what use is this journey.

While we talk about it in vague terms, we are not allowing ourselves to think about the end. We are focused on the short term goal of reaching our next cache and making it safely through the week.

And what about those big questions you ask? It's late and we're tired. Another time perhaps and our bed time routine beckons.

Image: An icy self portrait.

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

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com

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

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

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