The sled tips over, we trip, stumble or fall, cold feet, cold hands, cold nose, navigating in low visibility, setting up the Big Kev (our Sierra Designs tent), taking down the Big Kev, melting snow for meals and drinking, waking up... Each day we each face a million tiny struggles in our efforts to get to the pole.

Struggle #1. An openn lead somewhere creates a low hanging fog and decreases visibility considerabley.

Struggle #2. The slider on AJ's inner sleeping bag breaks.

Struggle #3. A large pressure ridge blocks our path. We find a somewhat passable route. (This is also struggle 13, 15, 16-34 and 50-60).

Struggle #4. Thin ice. Need to detour.

Struggle #5. We have to lift all three sleds up and over a five foot wall of ice.

Struggle #6. Rubble ice.

Struggle #7. Thoughts of friends and family (especially Maria) and the distance between us.

Struggle #8. AJ's bad jokes.

Struggle #9. Frozen Clif bars

Struggle #10. Open water prevents us from skiing. We have to camp early.

Most times we face these struggles alone. Still, we are out here as a team - offering an extra hand, a word of encouragement, or the simple acknowledgement of a struggle.

Image: Darcy and AJ picking their way through some 'pressure'.

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

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

For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com

For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net