Scrambling up a 15-foot tall block of ice changes my perspective just enough to help with navigation. Yesterday AJ described the ice as a puzzle, but looking at the wide panorama below, I think maze.

For as far as I can see there are large 20-30 foot ice blocks scattered sporadically. In between, snow drifts roll, taper, begin and end with equal randomness. Some are rock hard. Others are soft. Massive winding jumbles of ice slabs diagnol forming the only recognizeable pattern. Somewhere in all that a few flat pans exist even though I can't seem them right now. I wish there were more. A couple of frozen flat lead means the difference between two hours struggle versus 30 minutes of leisurely travel.

We've had to remind ourselves several times that we are choosing to be here

We lost only 350 feet due to southward drift last night. After the usual freezing wake up and frost management chores, we were off - darcy's feet being unbearbly cold for only an hour. We spent much of the day meandering (if you can call back-breaking work that) back and forth, up and over drifts and ridges. Despite coming face to face with numerous ridges, we always seem to find some way through.

We spent most of the day deep in our own thoughts. Breaks are few and short as our margin of safety is unnervingly thin.

'When we first started, it was 90% survival and 10% travel,' commented Darcy. We are slowly pushing the odds in our favor.'

Because of our desire to stay warm, we lengthed our travel shift to two hours. Nearing the last few minutes, we were dangerously cold and tired. Luckily, it was our 'soup' break complete with three pieces of bacon. We all benefited from the additional energy. Our best mileage to date and bacon saved our bacon.

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by Bing with major support from the University of Plymouth, Terramar, Seventh Generation, Goal0, Atlas, Sierra Designs and Optic Nerve.

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

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com

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