On one hand the spindrift that blows on newly formed leads ids a good thing. It acts a little like cement freezing to the salty ice and firming it (ever so slightly) up.

On the other hand, it can also cover small cracks as well as the color and texture of ice that help us determine if ice is 'safe'.

Safe here is a relative term. Today, we crossed several leads where we balanced on floating ice islands or skimmed across sinking angled slabs of ice. Then looking for an alternative route after Ryan's ski went through, I headed up a narrow gap of rubbly ice that is normally frozen solid as I shifted my weight from one ski to another the whole area collapsed underneath me.

Somehow, I managed to throw my weight to the side and only got wet up to my thighs. Luckily, my modified OR brooks range over boots and Bergans bibs kept my feet relatively dry so it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. I rubbed as much snow on my legs to soak up the water and started skiing as fast as I could to keep warm.

We crossed Yasu's tracks a few times today and were quite surprised after crossing over a pressure to see hit tent.

Livingston I presume?

We had seen only seen his faint tracks a few days ago but assumed he was farther east. He poked out and we had a very short conversation about bad ice and that he was waiting to be picked up.

Distance traveled: 10.624 nautical miles

Image: Ryan skiing down a newly frozen lead.