Early days of December: the other key word of this expedition is the word sastrugis. Sastrugis are waves of ice formed by winds that make the surface of the ice-cap stand on end. When they are not very high, it's no problem to make progress by ski and sail. On the other hand, they can jut up 40, 50 and even 70 centimetres above the surface of the ground. When that happens, it's like rowing upstream for the two men. It's hell. After reaching the polar plateau, Alain and Dixie thought they'd be able to advance with ease and head for the South Pole with their ears pinned back. But far from it. The sastrugi fields slowed them down significantly.