Waiting out Whiteout and Wind

Annie reports that the team remained stationary to wait out the worst of the weather. Conditions were challenging, with 40 mph winds, snow, sleet, and temperatures near freezing.  They are strategically utilizing this forced rest day—a potential reality of any major expedition, like crossing the world's largest island ice sheet. To compensate for the delay, the team is shifting their schedule to travel entirely through the night. By departing in the late evening and traveling during the coldest hours, they hope to avoid the "sticky conditions" and maintain an efficient eastward pace. The forecast is relenting and they plan to arrive at Dye-2 within the next couple of nights.

Annie shared that they spent some of their tent time playing Battleship. Mike ultimately triumphed, sinking all six of Annie's adventure-themed ships: the Fram, Belgica, Erebus, Terror, Endurance, and Kon-Tiki. A well-deserved victory for Mike!

The photo shared by Annie is an excellent illustration of the "glob fest" left in the ski tracks. Each indentation in the ski track represents a glob of snow taken away by the skis. This missing snow now adheres to the ski base, adding to the skis' weight and resistance.