Getting Closer. Getting Warmer
Eric Larsen
08 April 2017 | Arctic Ocean
Yesterday's slight wind dropped sometime during the night making for a slightly warmer morning. Which considering it was -32 C yesterday means a substantial increase in how 'warm' it feels. Or should I say cold?
I sometimes use the phrase 'not hot'. Like when my hands are painfully cold and my hold body is shivering I will sometimes say, 'it's not hot'.
Despite the slightly (and I mean the smallest increase) warmer temperatures, it's still the Arctic Ocean and we spent the day on the normal roller coaster of hot and cold. When we are skiing, we are warm. Stopping for our short snack breaks, however, is a chilly affair even with our big down jackets on. Today, I had to laugh at myself while spooning hot soup noodles from my Stanley flask into my mouth. Because of the nose beak I sew onto my goggles, I can't see my mouth so each spoonful is a blind jab in the general direction of my face. Most times, I hit the target.
Bachir and Victor are adapting to the thin margins of Arctic Ocean travel by adapting accordingly. Being mindful of cold fingers and feet can mean the difference between success and failure out here.
Bachir gets an extra polar prize for changing his socks mid ski day today - a not too easy task considering the temperature.
In the end, we had good ice conditions and covered 8.58 nautical miles.