Sundogs and Haloes - Alone in Antarctica: The First Woman to Ski Solo Across the Southern Ice - page 186

my second resupply considerably before the looming deadline
and it changed everything. For the first time since leaving the
Leverett, it seemed possible that I could make it to the coast.
I had, at best, twenty days until Steve would want me back
at Union Glacier. The last 300 nautical miles of my journey
had gone quickly but I'd had good weather and favourable
terrain. What lay ahead was flat and prone to deep snow,
not to mention week-long storms that pinned teams in their
tents and my sledges, renewed with the resupply, were back
to full weight. It was impossible to predict whether twenty
days would be enough - but there was enough opportunity
to leave me optimistic. I could feel an unhealthy desperation
building. In the past I had placated myself with covenants
to get as far as I could but now, there was no denying that
to be this close and not make the coast would be worse, far
worse, than having given up at the Pole. Previously, I had not
allowed myself to believe there was any hope and that had
suppressed any sense of need. Now that I had a chance, I felt
taut with the pressure of it. For the first time, I became aware
of the truth - that anything less than the coast would be a
crushing disappointment.