Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
raise funds for You Can, which builds cancer centres across Australia.
Our paths crossed at the start of my run, in the Arctic, when we were
all training for the challenges ahead. When we recognised each other,
our faces lit up. It's said that no matter where you go in this world
you'll run into an Aussie, and I guess that's true. Before we went our
separate ways, we reminisced about the delights of meat pies and beer,
and promised to catch up back home and experience those delicacies
rather than just talk about them.
Things went pear-shaped again soon afterwards. All day there
had been no wind, and as a result a thick fog settled, reducing visibil-
ity to 20 metres. Scotty said it was too unsafe to drive the vehicle in
these conditions in a known crevasse field. He was scared he would
get bogged or fall into a crevasse. Look, I understood and sympa-
thised with what he was saying, but that didn't stop it being bloody
frustrating. Because of the delays, I have to make 55 kilometres a day
from now on to be at the South Pole by January 17 or 18 at the latest.
For three endless hours until the fog lifted I sat cooling my heels, not
knowing how long I'd be held up for. I called a meeting and pointed
out to Scotty that a nine-to-ive mentality is out of place on this run.
The sole reason for us being here is for me to get to the South Pole in
the fastest possible time. I don't work eight-hour days; I run for 12, 14,
maybe 16 hours, and my team stays with me—whatever it takes to get
the distance done. I told him that unless we are in huge danger, which
I conceded we could have been in this morning if we'd set out in the
fog, we have to keep going. Eric backed me up. It was a hard conversa-
tion but one that had to happen. Scotty took what I said onboard, and
we started up again. We finally stopped at 2 am.
January 11
Just when I thought it couldn't get any colder, today strong south-
easterly winds and bleak grey skies saw the temperature hit -45 degrees
with the wind-chill factor. Both Eric and Scotty are now refusing to
work such long hours and have said I must be finished running by ten
in the evening, or they will pull the plug. Eric is worried that overtired-
ness could cause errors. We're also still having late starts because of
bad weather. But I must rely on the others. I can't wait to finish the
South Pole leg. I hate it here.
