The team called in today to report good ice conditions, but very flat light with low visibility. Low visibility makes it difficult to see obstacles in the snow such as bumps or blocks of ice. Everything including the sky, the horizon, the ice and the snow all blend into one gray mirage and navigation gets difficult. It's very easy to hit something and tip over or fall. Luckily the team had mostly big pans of flat ice separated by the occasional rubble zone, and they were able to make 9.5 nautical miles. They are now located at N89.54.09, E122.
This picture is from our ski expedition, but you can see how
flat light makes the obstacles "blend in" harder to see.
When they called in they had just finished dinner and were rocking out to Jimi Hendrix on Rick's ipod. Their energy is very high and everyone is looking forward to reaching the North Pole. All day they encountered lead after lead that had closed up allowing them to pass with ease. They are now on solid old ice. Let's keep our finger's crossed that the remaining miles to the Pole are on pans with no open water!
Getting excited as they close in on the North Pole.
Make sure to listen to today's audio report from Wendy, and check back again tomorrow for what will hopefully be an update from the North Pole!
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