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Dispatches: And to think... - Wednesday, 5th May 2004

Day's Statistics

Expedition & Environmental Statistics:
Position:88.50.7N 92.08.9E (view route map)
Daily distance:9.8 nm
Total distance:421.7 nm
Distance to go:485.1 nm
Travelling time:9hrs
Temperature:-5°C
Conditions:heavy snow and whiteout with moderate east-north-easterly gusting strong; pack ice and leads, snow hiding everything
view large image
view large image

...I thought yesterday was a tough day. Today was ridiculous - right off the scale. An even, er, whiter whiteout, more snow, a change in wind direction (I'm now skiing into it), more leads, lots of negative (backwards) drift, giant pressure ridges, acres of rubble, and to top it all off (I hope you're sitting down, mum) I fell through the ice.

The photo is of where it happened - the lead was completely hidden by fresh snow. Somehow it was just my right leg that went through - a lucky escape as I seemed to be scrambling over sinking ice on all fours for ages. Very scary stuff, and it left me extremely shaken up. I'm a long way from help if I get into trouble and I felt rather small and lonely as I skied along afterwards, 'gazing into the abyss of self-pity' (one of my favourite John Ridgway-isms).

Aside from the whiteout and snow, the weather has been worryingly warm lately. In my diary I have the expedition log from the 2000 Norwegian Arctic crossing (the only ever unsupported crossing, by a two-man team - no one has made it solo without support). In April, their warmest day was -11 degrees C. Mine was -2. Today it's -5, whereas on 5th May 2000 it was -17 and the 6th was -20. Hmmm.

Anyway, it's not all doom and gloom. I had my telepathic mp3 player on today (I have three mp3 players, with 30 hours of music - the telepathic one is stuck in 'shuffle' mode but has a spooky knack of finding tunes to suit my mood) and it came up with a song by Anastacia called 'You'll never be alone'. Ordinarily, this would have me reaching for the sick bag, but today it worked wonders.

Today is dedicated to everyone at KTB PR, not least the fabulous Kate herself! Thanks for all your support.

A big hi also to everyone at Wishaw Academy Primary School - thanks for the messages!

Visitor Comments

# Cold very cold

It must have been cold when you fell through the ice and you must have gotten a bit of a fright but it must have been fun. I will write to you again soon. bye

By gggg on Thursday, 6 May - 12:13 pm -0700

# Which foot was it?

Was it the boot with the hole? More than likely, Sods law and all that!
Dragged myself out of a hole yesterday, more a pit of depression than a hole. Went out and bought another boat! This one is fibreglass so won't suffer the same corrosion problems which scrapped the old one.
Big outboard on it, should fly along. A bit tired and in need of a spruce-up.
A lot like it's new owner.
Onwards and upwards Ben.

Ken. (Superflid)

By Ken Powell on Thursday, 6 May - 07:18 am -0700

# Alone?

I suppose the rugged vastness of the North would compel a person to feel utterly alone. However, if thoughts of you count, you are not 'alone'. Please make it safely to your destination (physically and spiritually). Wishing you well, and I hope the telepathic MP3 player can be persuaded to provide safe travel directions as well as the mood reflecting songs.

By George Fudge on Thursday, 6 May - 03:17 am -0700

# These times they are a changin'...

Hi, Ben
Your dispatch reminded me of a Dylan song, and your quest definitively signals, Arctic climate change. Notably - glad to know only one major limb exposed to sub-zero temperatures - undoubtedly you responded appropriately, and the quest goes on!
Cheers,
-Scot

By Scot Morrison on Thursday, 6 May - 02:57 am -0700

# The very best of Youth

What to say that has not already been said. I am 77 a World War 2 veteran and I have the highest admiration for your endeavours. It is a delight to read how you overcome each obstacle with the single minded determination that is the hallmark of the true adventurer. You are almost halfway and I know you will encourage yourself with the thought that it is all downhill from here.
God and the best wishes of all your followers are with you.
Tony Balch Toronto Canada

By Tony Balch on Thursday, 6 May - 02:32 am -0700

# For Sharon Farquharson

I hope all of you forgive me for taking advantage of this board by posting to Sharon.

Sharon - Farquharson is a name on my mother's side of my family. I've not had much luck tracking it down for geneology purposes. When I saw your name, I was so surprised!

If you wouldn't mind, please email me, and I'll tell you more.

yuskeya1@yahoo.com

Look forward to hearing from you.

By Gwen on Thursday, 6 May - 12:05 am -0700

# Great going!

"Keep hanging in there Ben". You are a GREAT inspiration to others and to me as well.

By Sharon Farquharson on Wednesday, 5 May - 10:46 pm -0700

# You have introduced me to. . .

Ben, you have introduced me to music I had never heard before (which is not too unusual) and I've ordered some from Amazon.com. Sometimes I forget that the music choices here in America do not always include other countries. I rather appreciate the opportunity to widen my scope of musical knowledge.

With that great attitude of yours and a telepathic mp3 player you can't go wrong for long!

Everyday you have our most positive thoughts and prayers.

Cissy,
Texas

By Cissy on Wednesday, 5 May - 09:14 pm -0700

# Marathon Man!

Hi Ben
An out of the blue phone call found me with Tony and his house buddies
in our local "the Flask" last monday, it was great to see him and catch up on news I gather he has you down to join him in the New York marathon! well if you weren't aware you better start training!!!!
I also gather it is going to be his Birthday on Monday he will be the ripe old age of 27 so Tony I shall be thinking of you and wishing you a very Happy Birthday from The China Wall where I will be trekking.
I am off to Beijing tomorrow. I shall miss your updates Ben as we will be a bit off the beaten track I don't know what computer access i will have.
I am away for ten days and hope to read when I get back that you will have reached The Pole and beyond, so I hope the weather becomes more suitable for you, and I hope you stay dry and have no more scares. Never forget we are all here rooting for you.
Warm hugs Babs X

By Babs Powell on Wednesday, 5 May - 08:14 pm -0700

# Take care

I actually found your site from a PocketPC site and since that day I have been checking your site everyday.

I have been praying and worrying about your safety all the time. I can't imagine how it must be to be there all alone... going through some of the toughest conditions on earth!

Keep going Ben and Take care!

Bala

By Bala on Wednesday, 5 May - 06:41 pm -0700

# Warm Fuzzies Down Under!!!

And you still manage to post...wow.
Take care, keep your body parts on TOP of the ice!
Just think-most of your posters are women-that should give you a warm fuzzie feeling down under...

By Tricia on Wednesday, 5 May - 06:40 pm -0700

# Glad you're safe

How scary that must have been for you. As much as we posters worry about you, I can imagine how much worse it is for your friends and family.

I'm always glad to read the dispatch at the end of a rough day for you, because it means you made it through.

There are so many concerns for you - the "warmer" temp, the thin ice hiding beneath snow. Please take care, and try to stay dry.

By Gwen on Wednesday, 5 May - 06:19 pm -0700

# Will wonders never cease?

Let's certainly hope and pray so. You're the 'cat' of several lives. You get down about conditions and mishaps, but never for long. Then you're back on top of everything and seeing the humour and wonder of it all.
God's speed, Ben, for a better and more successful tomorrow.
Heather o t hill
-30-

By Heather on Wednesday, 5 May - 05:54 pm -0700

# :-0

Oh jeez...now THAT was a scary read. And what possessed you to get out and think, "Hey! This will make a cool photo..." It's likely I'd be crying instead. I don't believe in coincidences, so I happen to buy into the idea that your mp3 player is telepathic. Music sends you messages, and many times, you'll hear a song a completely different way, and there's a reason for that!

Hmmm...I've been extremely concerned about the global warming situation. Seems like it's progressing right along. Ben, do you report back to scientists about such things on your expedition, or do you in fact, take along some experiments to obtain readings for scientists? I've always wondered that. I'm just thinking that scientists, who are aware of polar expeditions and the people who embark on them such as yourself, would jump at the opportunity to send you along with something...and one last question: Do you have just the Norwegian expedition log with you or do you take other along, and do you bring them to help you along on your expedition? Thanks!

Ben, keep your spirits up...you know the weather will get better! You're almost at the Pole and then it's all downhill from there to get to Canada!! Well, if it becomes literally "downhill", keep that sledge of yours in check! ;-)

Rest well! (big thumbs up),

Nikki

By Nikki on Wednesday, 5 May - 05:33 pm -0700

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.

Into the mist...

Into the mist... - Monday, 3rd May 2004

Today wasn't much fun at all and at times I came perilously close to a severe sense of humour failure. It snowed heavily during the night. 'Oh well', I thought, as I trudged through the fresh snow, 'at least the ice is pretty good'. Ten minutes ...read more

Greyout

Greyout - Tuesday, 4th May 2004

More of the same really. The ice has been terrible - loads of new pack ice and pressure ridges (not a lot of water, thankfully) and as you can see, I wasn't blessed with particularly good views for nine out of the ten hours I was on my feet. The sun ...read more

And to think...

And to think... - Wednesday, 5th May 2004

...I thought yesterday was a tough day. Today was ridiculous - right off the scale. An even, er, whiter whiteout, more snow, a change in wind direction (I'm now skiing into it), more leads, lots of negative (backwards) drift, giant pressure ridges, ...

The last degree

The last degree - Thursday, 6th May 2004

There were moments earlier in the expedition when I thought getting this far would be impossible; when the Pole seemed a million miles away. Now it's less than sixty. Today I crossed the last parallel before the North Geographic Pole - 89 degrees ...read more

There's something wrong...

There's something wrong... - Friday, 7th May 2004

...with this picture. Is the answer: a) 'Good grief! It's so warm that Ben can ski along with no hat and no gloves.' b) 'Hahahahahaha... look at those tan lines!' c) 'Urgh! Look at that hair. I bet it hasn't been washed for at least, ooh, ...read more

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“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot