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Dispatches: Whiteout - Thursday, 11th March 2004


Day's Statistics

Expedition & Environmental Statistics:
Position:82.18.2N 096.51.5E (view route map)
Daily distance:2.9 nm
Total distance:30.6 nm
Distance to go:877 nm
Travelling time:5.5 hours
Temperature:-27°C
Conditions:whiteout, headwind, varied ice
view large image
view large image

No easy miles today. Things started out looking good, but within an hour the headwind had started (frozen face and drifting backwards) and the cloud had descended. I could hardly see a thing. Fun fun fun.

Swearing into my iced up face mask, I managed to grind out three nautical miles. It felt like more than that but today, as is often the case in the Arctic, I was going up the down escalator...

Today's dedication is to my polar mentors - Pen Hadow and Borge Ousland and to Tom & Tina at ExplorersWeb for developing the technology that means I can share this adventure with the world (or just bore you lot with my inane ramblings...)

Fingers crossed for clear skies and flat ice tomorrow. On on!

Visitor Comments


# Best of luck

Just listened to your phone conversation on LBC.
Best wishes for the journey ahead.
Take care of yourself.
Russ

By Russ on Saturday, 13 March - 08:14 am -0800


# Thinking of you

Dear Ben,
I think of you often. Each thought is followed by a prayer for your safety, that your spirits will remain high, and that your course ahead will be as "smooth" as possible.

Hope your hands and feet are warm. I'll keep tracking you, and will write again.

Take great care.
With warm regards,
Nancy (and Ryan too!)

By Nancy Hannigan on Saturday, 13 March - 05:43 am -0800


# questions?

Ben, What good does the brown suit do you if you can't take the sledge along? Does the sledge float and is it watertight? Could you cross a lead with the sledge if the lead was completely unfrozen? Will someone be plotting your daily progress? I sincerely hope you get several days of flat clean ice so you can make excellent progress. Here's hoping for a couple of 20 mile treks.

By Bill Kenny on Friday, 12 March - 10:39 pm -0800


# Batteries!

It appears your life depends on batteries!
How are they holding out? Do you have solar recharge capability?


By Tom, Minneapolis on Friday, 12 March - 04:09 pm -0800


# best wishes

i read your very intersting reports each day.my prayers are with you for your courage and stamina.our good thoughts are with you so you suceed in your brave mission!!!gladys

By gladys on Friday, 12 March - 02:21 pm -0800


# USVI!

Ben,

Greetings, again. Hope you'll remember these four letters of the alphabet, as they can relax your trembling, freezing, nearly numbness, body...the power of suggestion! You will definitely be ready to enjoy The Virgins after this nippy adventure. I hope and pray that your spirit for enjoying this vast whiteness doesn't wane-Keep the Faith! And, mostlikely, too, you are the very first human-being that some of the artic polar bears have ever seen. Lucky you!
I wish you "da best", and pray for your safe return. And, as Red Green always says at the closing of The Red Green Show on PBS....."Keep your stick on the ice"! And, he also laments to his male viewers...."We're all prayin' for Ya. We're all in this together". -Richard Hartman from Pennsylvania

By Richard Hartman on Friday, 12 March - 02:08 pm -0800


# How do you eat an elephant?

How do you eat an elephant?

A: One bite at a time.....

By Polar Challenge Team on Friday, 12 March - 01:53 pm -0800


# Courageous

Never give up your faith in yourself and your God! You are conquering the new frontier! Beautiful scenes from a harsh environment. May you stay warm in body as in spirit. I will be on the sidelines reading about your progress and encouraging you on in thought!!!

Diane - TX

By Diane U. on Friday, 12 March - 12:42 pm -0800


# On On

Hi Ben,

I see you are getting lots of encouragement, you deserve it, thinking of you and watching your progress. Glad you got through the VIP treatment, I wonder what you are thinking right NOW!

Whatever it is, I am thinking and praying for you, keet pushing and I hope the wind is assisting you. God Bless On On.

By Peter Goddard on Friday, 12 March - 12:20 pm -0800


# ITS ONLY GETTING BETTER

dear Ben, we wish you all the energie and courage you need. We will be wathing and following you, from The Netherlands.
Greetings from
Lonneke and Jeroen.

By jeroen eversdijk on Friday, 12 March - 12:14 pm -0800


# Warm Hugs

Fingers crossed for flat ice and sunshine too
Babs X

By Babs Powell on Friday, 12 March - 10:10 am -0800


# Doing Great Ben!

Don't let the weather get to you. One advantage that you have, that few others have had is communication with the outside. You know that you have a ton of people here wishing you luck and supporting you. It should be plenty of motivation for you to keep on pushing!

By Jon on Friday, 12 March - 05:43 am -0800


# Ditto "WOW" from Gina

Thanks for doing what We only dream of! Cowards that we be. I personally can't stand anything below 75 degrees F. May you receive JHVH's Blessings each day.
Bill Keen, Texas

By Bill Keen on Friday, 12 March - 05:15 am -0800


# just found your site


Ben , praying for you on your journey. I am a campus minister at Emory University in Atlanta georgia- my students and I will be praying fory you.

By Chip Jurskis on Friday, 12 March - 03:09 am -0800


# Just for Today

Hi, Ben
You are a beacon of light and hope for many, reminding me, that nothing is impossible when friends, family, and loved ones surround us, in spirit and thought. Thank you for the example, that our human spirit can triumph against great odds, and your fortitude is in its essences, inspiration.
-Scot
San Luis Obispo, Ca.

By Scot Morrison on Friday, 12 March - 02:37 am -0800


# is not the journey

I hope that everyone reading your dispatches will get the urge to try something more adventurous. This would be an almost as big of a victory for you as the success in your expedition. From Romania, all the best wishes.

By briaa on Friday, 12 March - 02:17 am -0800


# Way cool

I am 8 yrs old and my mommy is letting me follow your adventure on this web site. I will now go and look at the globe to find out where you are going. This is exciting and I will tell my friends. Good luck and I'll be reading about you on the web.

By Syd on Friday, 12 March - 01:00 am -0800


# Whiteout Chill

Hi Ben -

As I read your daily dispatches, I shiver even at the thought of being in such an extremely cold and harsh enviornment.

I'll stay right here in San Diego and ask God to keep sending the angels to watch over you! I wish I could send you some of "our" beautiful weather!

You're remarkable - Chin Up!

Big hugs from Debi

By Debi on Friday, 12 March - 12:41 am -0800


# WILSON!!

Did you remember to bring along a soccer ball to keep you company? Hope tomorrow is a better day for making tracks.
Time for me to go home and watch Survivor tonight.... do you think you could make it through a few weeks on a tropical island, lol!
(note to mr ipkis: the full moon was last week!)

By Markski from Iowa on Friday, 12 March - 12:27 am -0800


# A message from the M.E.A.

You can run but you cant hide! Our agents will eventually catch up with you no matter where you are. Muahahahahaha.

-M.E.A.

By Mom on Thursday, 11 March - 10:08 pm -0800


# we are inspired!

Your effort and struggle in an inspiration and puts life into perspective. If our support urges you on, you have enough to carry you many times over.

God's blessing and protection as you persevere!

By David Whiting on Thursday, 11 March - 09:59 pm -0800


# Our Northern light

Dear Ben

Your courage and stamina are amazing. You remain a shining example to us all. If only we could all be as brave and courageous as you the world would be a happier and easier place to live.

You're in our prayers. We pray for clear skies, thick ice and a following wind. God speed!

Chris,. Lianne, Courtney & Aaron

By Chris Hyman on Thursday, 11 March - 09:26 pm -0800


# WOW!

GREETINGS...IT IS SO REFRESHING TO HEAR ABOUT SOMEONE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH AN AMAZING FEAT OF DETERMINATION & BRAVERY! I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST!!!
MAY YOU FIND WITHIN YOUR SELF WHAT EVER IT IS YOU SEEK...IF ANYTHING? IF YOU HAVE ALREADY "FOUND IT" THEN HOORAH FOR YOU!!! YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU CAME HERE TO DO NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT IT...NOW THATS WHAT I CALL LIVING!..........FEAR STOPS SO MANY OF US FROM DOING THE SAME. YOU ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO SEE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO STEP OUT OF THE HERD & DARE TO THINK BEYOND THE COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE "MASSES". I PRAY THAT YOU SAFELY SUCCEED IN COMPLETING THIS EXCITING JOURNEY....NOT ONLY FOR YOUR OWN SAKE BUT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE FOLLOWING YOUR PROGRESS AS I NOW AM, & IS INSPIRED TO LIVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE INSTEAD OF FEAR. THANK YOU...
PEACE& LOVE&LIGHT&LAUGHTER=BLISS
WARM ((((((HUGS)))))) TOO!!!

By GINA on Thursday, 11 March - 08:45 pm -0800


# The drift is with you

Perhaps the "Force" is not strog today but, the drift is with you--yea? Anyway, my meditations will be directed to the top of the world (reminds me of a song) and, with you.
Cissy
Texas

By Cissy on Thursday, 11 March - 08:30 pm -0800


# Our thoughts are with you!

Greetings from San Antonio, Texas where the temperature is a lovely 78! My 6 year old son and I have been keeping track of your and Wave's progress. Thomas finds it all very exciting and adventurous and can't wait to hear each day's news. I'm pleased he is learning so much. Keep warm and good luck!
Shauna and Thomas

By Shauna Puente on Thursday, 11 March - 07:54 pm -0800


# School Projects

Hi Ben,

It's cold in England today but nothing in comparison to what you are dealing with! You haven't even got anyone to throw snowballs at. I'm 9 and you recently came to my school to talk about your expedition. Hope you manage to get through your trip without too many problems.

Warmest wishes Ethan

By ethan west on Thursday, 11 March - 07:49 pm -0800


# Hi

Good luck on your travels .

By Georgie Bernhardt on Thursday, 11 March - 06:58 pm -0800


# keep going!

we are still tracking your progress!
Good luck!

By gm class on Thursday, 11 March - 06:57 pm -0800


# Sending Warmth

Just wanted to pass back some warmth from London, but for some inexplicable reason the airconditioning is on full pelt. However, I suspect it's not a patch on what you're sitting in at the moment.

Warm thoughts, at least, then, from the Serco/BBC Travel News team who are extraordinarily proud to be supporting you, albeit tangentally!

By Dan on Thursday, 11 March - 04:45 pm -0800


# curious jealous?

i crave solitude but can't really get it as a hard-working doctor with a wife and 2 kids! truth be told most of the rats chasing cheese around here feel such a craving is pathologic! all of which i generally am happy with (trade-offs in life you know) but.............. the grass is always, or often greener you know.

so i read the adventure genre books: everest-types were hot these last few years to satisfy the craving.

so to you: how much of your motivation for this adventure is "exploration" and how much is to acheive the bliss of solitude?

By rob on Thursday, 11 March - 03:37 pm -0800


# curious. a little jealous

i love solitude - but getting it given my life is next to impossible, and quite frankly, not uncommonly looked upon as pathologic.

By rob on Thursday, 11 March - 03:30 pm -0800


# Determination

You sure have stamina - what a long 2 days it must have been! May God speed you. Janet

By Janet Lee on Thursday, 11 March - 03:25 pm -0800


# Onward and upward

Had the pleasure to meet you just before you left. Keep the dispatches coming. Seen any polar bears yet? Did you manage to get a more reliable gun this time? Regards from Surrey UK.

By AL on Thursday, 11 March - 03:11 pm -0800


# Perspectives

"Inane ramblings" are fine. "Insane ramblings" would be worrisome.

Carry on (you are now free to gambol about making "woop-woop" noises - perhaps it will help you warm up).

By ginny on Thursday, 11 March - 03:04 pm -0800


# GREAT

I have been monitoring you for the past couple of days, I am so happy to see you post your message by the day! God's send- you are amazing. If only we could have that determination to succeed in everyday affairs. What an extrodinary life we would live. My prayers are for you and I watch the route map too, too see how far you have come in a day. You are doing great, keep up the good work. All the way here in Virginia, you seem like a million miles away and to think it's just so different there. Stay warm, and again god bless you. God bless your girlfriend.

christy

By Christy on Thursday, 11 March - 02:56 pm -0800

Dispatches Archive


The following dispatches are an archive spanning the 4-5 months that Ben spent prior to the expedition, the expedition itself, and the returning home period.


It's grim up north...

It's grim up north... - Tuesday, 9th March 2004

Telltale signs you've chosen the wrong holiday destination no. 12: you start using your freshly filled pee bottle as a hand warmer before tipping it away. The weather in the high Arctic has taken several turns for the worse, and high winds ...read more

Oh what a night!

Oh what a night! - Wednesday, 10th March 2004

I'm writing this at the end of day two stuck in the tent. The bad weather seems to have blown over and I'm revving up for a good day on the ice tomorrow... Last night was unreal - the kind of weather I'd expect in Antarctica rather than up here - ...read more

Whiteout

Whiteout - Thursday, 11th March 2004

No easy miles today. Things started out looking good, but within an hour the headwind had started (frozen face and drifting backwards) and the cloud had descended. I could hardly see a thing. Fun fun fun. Swearing into my iced up face mask, I ...

There may be rubble ahead...

There may be rubble ahead... - Friday, 12th March 2004

I was psyched up for a big-mileage day today, but the Arctic had other ideas. Really nasty rubble ice this morning and a nice big open lead (area of open water) this afternoon. It was about 100m wide, ran to either horizon and was just starting ...read more

One day at a time

One day at a time - Saturday, 13th March 2004

Today is day nine on the ice. The hardest decision I've had to make so far happened a few days ago. I was skiing over a huge area of very new ice - miles and miles of it. Because of the combined weight of the two sledges, I was forced to pull one ...read more

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“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” - Helen Keller