Just over that hill (and past those crevasses)
Date = 8/1/2018
Day 48 (Expedition) Day 55 (Antarctica)
Location = Horse Shoe valley
Coordinates – S80 2.924’, W82 8.526’
Altitude = 1032m
Temperature = -15C
Wind speed / direction = 5-10 S. white out
Windchill = – 20C
Distance travelled = 31km
Distance remaining = 59km

We had our welcome storm, our welcome back storm and then last night our goodbye storm. It was pretty mild but for a while progressed beyond bad weather to what could be called a storm.
40 hours in the tent and it improved slightly. We decided to move and by the time we were set, the wind dropped to zero! But we were patient and managed 3km before the kites withered. Then 9km. Then another 19km. So after 3 hours chilled kiting we are 31km closer.
We have another 25km on the flat, then we enter a high mountain cirque and go over a col and down a glacier. Technical terrain and given our lack of easy experiences out here, we are prepared for the very final stage of our journey to be complex and time consuming. But praying that it’ll be straightforward and fast! Just so long as we don’t have my more crevasse incidents, we’ll be happy.
Some sun and a 10knot southerly is our final request. Dare I say this maybe our last night in the wilderness? No I daren’t! 59km through the mountains with 100kg is 2 solid days of hard walking, so surely with kite power we can be there by Wednesday? No! Don’t say it.
Antarctica has a wicked sense of humour and irony…
[Leo]
Tough day by the sound of it. Clearly Antarctica is giving you the full experience , no letting up.
Hope tomorrow goes better for you. Forget Wednesday as a finish day and take care of yourselves , the champagne is fine in the chiller – it won’t go off! It will keep until you arrive.
Best wishes
Best of luck on these final phases of varied tasks..
Keep thy wits about ye.. this mythos is not completed..
And good luck transitioning into your next unpredictable adventure, civilization.. What apiece of work is man..
You guys are the new hero’s and probably appear and smell like 3 right plucky misfits….
It must be frustrating , but , hey not far now ! Everything crossed for a safe gluide 2moro .
As a Kiwi who now lives in the Canadian Rockies, I want to thank you guys for helping me through the bitter cold of winter in these parts. Plugging the car in to ensure it runs in the morning, constantly shovelling the driveway, and paying enormous power bills has seemed like no hardship at all! This has been a fantastic journey to follow – the updates a great way to start each day. I’m sure, like you, many will be a bit sad when it’s over. It’s been a mission! Well done.
Courage les gars !
MJo
“Gasss, nenu, gassss”.
As my good friend David “Pelut” would say. Full gas!.
Sounds like you had a gruelling day but made more kms than some days of grolling slog. I’m sure you are been extra careful now you are so close to that end of a adventure unheard of till now. These last few kms will try you with hidden dangers so I’m thinking of you all day willing you a safe arrival tomorrow or in a few days time, would be great to fly in though instead off hauling those pukes over the finishing line Cheers Glenda Down Under.
Fingers crossed you lads all make it out of the freezer with a few more days. Can’t wait to read more about this epic journey once you’re safe and sound.
Jean, je peux te dire maintenant combien tu nous a fait travailler:tous vos défis, vos performances, vos combats et victoires étaient pour nous comme un miroir d’intégrité dans nos vies, notre quotidien
relativiser, positiver, exprimer la confiance et la conviction,
je n’ai pas douté un instant de ta motivation et ta force
et les mots m’ont souvent manqué pour le dire
mais en résumé : on t’aime très fort Jean
parce qu’il parait qu”‘on ne dit pas assez à ceux qu’on aime, par peur de les gêner, qu’on les aime”
et je salue tes frères de route merci pour ce que vous nous avez fait vivre. à tout bientôt gros bisous Macaule
Sounds like your going to play tents when you get home to the kids Leo!!!
So did some routes in Calp today on toix nice and good with Jeremy, more to come over the next couple of weeks… Yea baby
Amazing stuff Leo and team.
Get home in one piece – there is a big rock waiting
Can’t wait to hear more
Eoin O’Shea
Wish I had the drive to do something like this.
Wow, must’ve been stressful