Last night was a mix of excitement and restless sleep for our team at Union Glacier camp. The perpetual sunlight at the South Pole kept the landscape brightly lit, making it hard to sleep even with a mask. This time of year, the South Pole basks in continuous daylight, a stark contrast to the prolonged darkness that commences in April.
Despite my lousy sleep, the day was packed with preparations. We packed up our freeze dried meals, practiced setting up and breaking down our tents, and tested our skis and sleds. The weather has been unexpectedly mild, with temperatures lingering in the low double digits and minimal wind. If this continues, our ski trek to the pole promises to be more pleasant than anticipated.
Union Glacier camp is currently a hub of serene activity, with only a few expedition and climbing teams either arriving or departing. Tomorrow, we're scheduled for a 3 1/2-hour, 600-mile flight that will drop us off at an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level - literally in the middle of nowhere. We will fly in a DC-3 (Basler) which was originally used in 1944 by the Canadian Air Force to drop troops off by parachute in Normandy. It’s a totally mechanical aircraft and works perfectly in cold weather, operates by Canadian pilots who fly for Ken Borek airways.
In a special moment today, we paid tribute to 7-year-old Lizzie from Fort Worth, TX, who is bravely battling brain cancer and has undergone multiple surgeries in 2023. Her courage is an inspiration to us all as we embark on this journey.
