25 05 99

Position: 65° 57' 55" N 39° 28' 01° W

We've done 12.43 kms. and gained 100-200 feet in elevation. Today was extremely hard. We thought we were going to have it easier once we reached the plateau towards the summit. Even though it's rising, it takes 200 kms. to rise 4,000 - 5,000 feet. It's a very gradual rise.

Because of the snow storm we had yesterday, and the strong wind overnight, it has blown the snow into drifts like sand dunes or waves. While the sleds slide easily on the old snow, every time we hit a drift the sled comes to an abrupt stop. At times the drifts are much more frequent than the original surface. So it takes a tremendous amount of energy for every step. It's hard work all the time. Somehow we managed to keep going and it was our longest day to date. It was certainly hard work all the time. However, we're definitely up on the rise towards the summit. If we could get a bit of wind following us or a change in the surface, we could make really good time at this stage.

We also had a very strong wind all day. Just as we were putting the tent up, the wind died out and we now find ourselves in flat calm. For the first time that we remember, the tent is silent, really quite unusual...

End of transmission

Close this window to return to Greenland Traverse Expedition.