The final hours on the ice

It's Sunday 4 June at 09.00. The team is just 4km from its destination - and it is still tough going. They hold their discipline together to make sure there are no last-minute mistakes.

Final hours on the glacier

Good morning from the glacier, this Sunday, 4th June, 2006. It is 9am here as I speak from my tent, 4km from Point 660.

These final 4km are going to take us 4/5 hours of tough going. There are lots of crevasses, lots of wet ground underfoot.

Yesterday Pasi, Jacek and Harvey were ahead, striking a route through, while Andy did most of the pulling along of Karen.

The four men were mostly skiing, a question of staying on their feet, balancing and manoeuvring along the bumpy ground. I have been wearing crampons so my feet are getting very wet. Progress is so slow in these conditions.

We can see the land ahead through out tent flaps. We have to get ourselves off the ice and on to the land where we have arranged for a car to pick us up at 5pm our time and transport us to Kangerlussuaq.

We will stay there tonight in a hotel or hostel. Before the car arrives we hope to have time to take photographs.

Zestco sponsored last night’s 'final camp' on the ice. Zestco is an innovative young company inspiring tomorrow’s TODAY. They explore new frontiers in the expansion of human capabilities through programmes, products, and services for the environment in business and personal development. They were delighted to hear about our project and to contribute to moving forward the boundaries of exploration. Thank you, Zestco.

Last night’s has turned out to be the most challenging camp of all. We celebrated our final night on the glacier with our remaining miniature bottles of Bailey’s.

There is a stream running through the front of the tent.

The boys used four ice-screws to put the tents up and balanced them with their skis and the pulks. Fortunately, there is no wind. Otherwise, it would be a lot more challenging.

We have been using the batteries from our friend Ski’s phone in our old phone. It is a matter of holding the battery as we talk. We needed to conserve it for the call for transport.

I shall be in touch again once we are safely off the ice.

Thanks to you all for your messages of encouragement.