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Yesterday, we learned that, against wind and tide, they continued to advance (the call was short); today, we were able to receive the latest news of the pack ice in rather more detail. Alain and Dixie are still ill; Alain has a stomach ulcer and the sore is giving him terrible pain - especially when he pulls the sledge. Dixie, for his part, did not sleep and spent almost the entire night vomiting - serious indigestion. "It seems to me that I made a mistake", Alain confided to me, "because for the sake of a few milligrams, always trying to eliminate weight, I slightly increased the fat content of our daily food during its preparation with Arnaud Tortel. I think that it is these small grams of nothing that have made all the difference these last few days. I was obviously wrong…" One should add to this small medical assessment, the feet (Alain's) that are covered with leaking skins (moisture in the shoes all the time) and a knee (Dixie's) that is not working very well either. Pen
in hand, the table of the incredible distances that can be seen
to remain to be covered (this Sunday evening, they are still 1,178km
from the Pole) and, especially, the unending reversals at the coal-face
which for 50 days have marked out the route of their adventure (these
started with eight days of delay at departure), one might expect
that the two rogues would weaken, lose their morale, take advantage
of their rest and decide that the comedy had gone on long enough... Thus, yesterday, in spite of a North Wind that blew head on during their 7 hours of progression, making the temperatures that were already less than freezing plummet still further (- 38°C in the evenings), they covered 6km and, today, likewise; 12 kilometres in two days. Knowing that, if the wind had been southerly or south-easterly as it usually is in this region of the pack ice and at this time of year, they could have made more than 30 or 40km of progress - the ice becoming, as indicated by the maps of the Russian researchers and the forecasts resulting from the observation of the terrain, definitively flatter... It
is in such conditions that Compaq Pole II continues...
A very short e-mail sent via iPaq (Compaq) at noon today, giving the day's position, a follow-up of a satellite message saying that they had indeed set out once more into that hellish pack ice and that Alain is better (no more stomach ache), but that they can't understand anything any more. A drift that cost them at least 4km backwards today (8 km on the counter, whereas they had estimated that they had covered at least 12km), a North wind that prevented them from getting out their sails whereas, this time, the ground had never been so flat and unbroken since the beginning of their expedition. The cold which had its claws out, - 38° C this evening (7 hours time difference (+) between Brussels and the expedition), whereas it is already mid-April, the drift which goes in all directions, sometimes to the North, sometimes to the West, sometimes to the South... "But what the hell are we doing here?", Dixie shouted down the telephone… "It's crazy, everything's against us… We can't think of anything any more, we have only one choice, to seek refuge in the Zen Attitude…" A ray of hope, however: the improvement of the ice that we noticed on the maps sent by our Russian friends (see our new close up map) is confirmed on the ground. It is well and truly effective. So, the miracle we're waiting for, will it come tomorrow ?
This
was the first rest day of the expedition. But it was enforced, because
Alain Hubert is ill. Vomiting, high temperature, sore throat and
slight liver pains (with the fat that they are eating each day...).
Nothing that serious for this extraordinary man. Because their pharmacy
contains all the ad hoc medicines. And Hubert is familiar with this
type of situation. A
few last-minute items of information concerning the other
Polar Arctic expeditions which are not going much faster than the
two Belgians. A third expedition has had to give up: Mike Horn stopped
his walk towards the Pole the day before yesterday, due to severe
frost-bite on his fingers.
Contrary
to announcements made in certain sections of the press, Alain and
Dixie are far from giving up. It is true that they have had to re-define
the objectives of their expedition and will continue to be disappointed
about not having succeeded in making the crossing unassisted as
originally planned. Some optimism then, cold temperatures once again (-30°C), discomfort in Alain's sleeping bag (last night, he could feel the ice sheet melting under his thighs!), 6 hours' walk, going 1.5 km backwards during the night (drift), fine weather, marvellous scenery. Alain has swollen glands, while Dixie is in fine form and helping his companion.
Bis
repetita: even though Dixie and Alain are in great physical shape
(Alain has lost quite a few kilos, nevertheless, but of course,
he does not know exactly how many), and are in high spirits, they
are still having to contend with the same darned ice terrain which
is not improving. Today, they said briefly, the day was worse than
ever, and the almost impassable ridges that they have to skirt around
are alternating with ridges that can be crossed, but only with enormous
physical effort. Fortunately, there is no open water. But they cannot
see a clear horizon either, which would be a sign of a flatter ice
floe more suitable for making progress.
A
seventh week of laborious progress, 43rd day of superhuman effort.
Here at HQ, like a sizeable number of our visitors, we thought that
there was light at the end of the tunnel, that the open water was
gone from their route for good, and that our polar explorers would
be able to breathe more easily. And move ahead faster. But today,
as Alain Hubert and DixieDansecoer have told us, there is no choice
but to accept that the fractures in the pack and the open water
which is cracking it have reappeared in this symphony of infernal
whiteness. As
today's conservation was curtailed due to the prevailing bad mood,
we are publishing an initial situation review of this first phase
of the expedition. This text was also included in our first Newsletter,
which we send to those who cannot keep tabs on the exhibition via
our site.
To
display the previous follow up pages, click on the related week
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Sunday 14 April (day 49) : Ill throughout the night, and their troubles
aren't over…
