Despite drifting nearly a mile south while we slept last night and losing additional progress while I write this, I was in a relatively good mood today. For the first time in over a week, we had somewhat decent surface conditions. It was a welcome relief to feel like we weren't dragging a huge anchor across the sand... Just a medium sized anchor, but hey - you've got to take your successes where you can get them.

Twice today we raced through ice that was actively pressuring. In one area huge pieces of ice - some nearly five feet - were grinding into each other. I watched as Ryan stalled, repositioning to get better leverage on his sled, as the ice he was standing on crumbled beneath him. In less than 30 seconds, the ice had moved him nearly three feet away from his sled! I have never seen ice here move that fast. Amazing!

For most of the morning, we struggled with big cracks, pressure and ice that just looked like it was breaking up underneath us. I couldn't decide if the Arctic Ocean was trying to swallow us whole or create the worst road block in history. Its frustrating, scary and overwhelming all wrapped up in/to one big polar mess of emotions. I've always said as physically challenging as this trip is, its emotionally much more difficult.

Still, there are few moments when I am not completely in awe of the beauty and power of this place. The way in which the ice is heaved up leaving sharp blue faces, long ridges of pressured ice rising from completely flat ice, small 12 inch thick slabs from frozen leads stacked up like dominos, arcing drifts...

We veered west around some of the worst areas that were just impassable. There seems to be a significantly number of smaller pans this year making the few open areas a welcome relief. Distance traveled: 8.75 nautical miles

Image: Ryan winding through a fractured lead.