I've been trying to play catch up over the past few days- trying to make up for my first nine days of terrible weather but it hasn't been easy.

My days are long. 14 hours outside the tent. Once inside, I quickly try to melt snow, eat and go to sleep.

My life is pretty simple.

In one sense, it is totally overwhelming. But in another, I simply try to focus on small objectives. An hour. Lunchtime. The last two hours of the day.

I think of all the things I could do at home in 14 hours. I could drive from Denver to Minneapolis (farther actually)... or just all the normal interactions that you have in that time period. And for me, an unending snowy horizon and more skiing.

Still, as Maria often comments, "your choice". Yes it is true that this is my choice and I am pleased but with my decision to attempt this expedition. But I'm not going to lie. It's extremely hard.

In the mean time, I focus on the present. Taking one step after another. Fixing small problems as they arise.

The sastrugi has been beautiful recently. Arced wind sculpted forms diving in and out of the surface at completely random intervals and locations. Each is unique but they are all similar as well. Some have delicate fins. Others long fingers. Most of the time I think of dolphins or whales surfacing in a sea of white.