We have had some great questions from you all, spoke to the team this morning and here is what they said…………….
1. We are following your trek and enjoying your updates. Little Damaso wants to know if you ever get to take your clothes off, your hats, etc.
He is also fascinated by how it feels when the earth shifts and loved your description comparing the landscape to the moon.
Damaso Rodriguez and Family
Richard answered - The team have a woollen base layer on permanently which they will change approximately every 15 days. They do this by warming the tent with their body heat – however they have all said it’s still very cold bbbrrrrr……
2. What is the texture of the snow? Mush, hard, crisp, light? How does it feel under your ski’s, would it make good snowballs snowmen?
The Smiths
Andrew answered – Even though we are surrounded by snow it does not snow very often in Antarctica! The snow texture varies; sometimes it’s hard and icy, sometimes soft. The snow surface is irregular called Sastrugi. You could make snowballs or snowmen – however this would mean our gloves get wet and wet is cold! Also the exertion from each day trek means we have little time or energy to do much else but make camp and dinner.
3. How do you eat all that butter! How do you incorporate in to a meal?
Best of luck to you all. You are doing amazingly. We admire you all so much.
Chris and Vanessa
Alan answered – we make meals by rehydrating dehydrated meals, the snow we boil in a bag, once the snow is water we add a portion of the butter (which we cut back in Puntas Arenas) and wait till it melts, we then add this to rehydrate the meal.
4. Have you met any other people trying to get to the South Pole?Have you met any animals if you have which one is your favourite?
This is the Holywell School, chat to you soon, Jaime and friends (Maya India Poppy)
Richard answered - We did meet a group of people at Base camp back at Union Glacier they were all headed off for different types of challenges – some to trek the last degree (which means trekking from the 89th to the 90th degree of the South Pole) some to trek from coast to Pole (but a different route to us). Since we have left Base Camp we have not seen anyone! We did however see some tracks from a team which are supposedly two weeks ahead of us. There are no animals where we are; they are all by the coast.
Anything you would like to ask? Head over to contact us and ask away : )