South Pole – Captain Scott

17 January 2012 – Exactly 100 years ago Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team arrived at the most Southern point on Earth, the South Pole, in their wool jerseys, leather boots, cotton under garments and waxed wind suits. Sitting ensconced in my down suit and nylon tent right now and trying to visualise what they went through is impossible. All I can say is that with the gear they had on this nippy continent they must have been men of men – the kind of men that exemplify the unlimited capabilities of the human spirit.

The temperature here is 32 degrees below zero.

The weather deteriorated today with cloud and wind occluding the radiation of our desired Sun. I am now a full Sun worshipper…right now. And if the rays come back tomorrow I will roll around in the snow naked gratefully. Promise.

Nzuzo has now been diagnosed with frostbite in three places. His toes, fingers and his nose. All cases are being managed by the good doctor Berning. The nineteen year old never knew what hit him yesterday. He has the support of our backup team, is in good spirits but is quite dazzled by the complexity of skills required to stay alive here. Just going to the loo is a half hour exercise and is carried out using a ‘Wag Bag’ in a bucket. No waste may be left here because there is very little precipitation to break it down. The upshot is that there is no better view from any other loo on Earth. The wind-textured surface extending to the horizon a whole lot more engaging than a magazine. Finishing off is a little more challenging than standard porcelain as you might imagine.

We covered just under 18 kilometres today in 8 hours. The hefty sleds held us back. The snow is soft in places and clings to the underside making for tardy progress.

Tomorrow we will attempt to cover 20km by an earlier start. Must get to sleep.

Until tomorrow

Sean Wisedale for The Unlimited Child South Pole Expedition

http://theunlimitedchild.co.za/blog-2/ 

Nzuzo sitting in the snow