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Dispatches: ANOTHER day in paradise - Saturday, 28th February 2004

I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever leave Khatanga.

One of the joys of being solo on the ice (if I ever get there!) is that I'm entirely in charge of my own destiny. Right now, that couldn't be further from the case - our stay in the frozen town of Khatanga has now doubled and Russian bureaucracy (which at its best can only be described as baffling) has conspired to extend our sojourn here still further. So far we've had permit delays, radio operators unwilling to work on the weekends, gunfights over who runs the polar base and official delegations commandeering our helicopter. We have been told 'definitely tomorrow' at least four times. We fly to Sredniy on Monday. '100% for sure', apparently. Hmm.

After repacking my sledges for the umpteenth time, we're running out of things to do. We headed out to the river to do some filming yesterday ­ in the photo you can see me swearing at my tent and Dan swearing at his camera at -42°C. For the first time in ages, I've actually had time to consider the ridiculous scale of what I'm attempting, and the butterflies in my stomach are stirring...

Visitor Comments

# Why?

Some emmergency is likely to happen requiring us taxpayers to shell out another $30,000 for evacuation by helicopter and he will go home, write his book and retire early.

By Jim Gratz on Monday, 8 March - 05:36 pm -0800

# expedition

good luck in your expedition.

By tilly smith from danes hill on Saturday, 6 March - 01:31 pm -0800

# U R Brave - I like it!

Hello,

U are so brave. I could only wish to see and meet more men like you. You know this is a geographic lesson for me. I didn't know you could reach Canada from Russia without taking a boat or a plane, duh...hee, hee, hee Well, I am sitting here at work in the Bay Area of Kalifornia (as Arnold would say it) daydreaming I was doing something as daring as you, or something close to it. I wishing you good luck and please be safe. As soon as I post this I am going to tell all of my co-workers about your daring and brave expedition.

GODSPEED!!
Nicole Byrd

By Nicole on Thursday, 4 March - 12:49 am -0800

# inspirational

Hi Ben
Saw you at Destinations at Earls Court the other week and I think what you are doing is both mad and marvellous! Your talk was so inspirational. I hope all goes well for you. Good luck.

By Sian on Sunday, 29 February - 10:46 pm -0800

# Twiddling thumbs

Hey I thought the 'Connect 4' was for Tony and Val to while away the hours AFTER you left - not for you Ben. Fingers crossed for Monday-next dispatch avidly awaited. We have also been keeping up with other adventurers via thepoles.com site and we do wish Wave and the others god speed as well. We woke to a perfect winter wonderland this morning so you were in our thoughts as always. Love to you all

By Jonathan and Helen Haile on Sunday, 29 February - 01:52 pm -0800

# In defence of the pilots...

...on a monday morning at minus fourty, anyone can be forgiven for having trouble raising a chopper. Hope this time you get on your way.Tony, am keeping watch for you! Martin...er timer....lens cap...sense of humour!!! Ben, you may be going solo but we'll be part of the army of those with you in spirit. Good luck.

By Alexis and Fister, Moscow on Sunday, 29 February - 09:08 am -0800

# Hey there!!!

Good luke!!!!
I´m thinking about you every time i eat a polvoron.
I can imagine how you are feeling since we have an arctic cold down here in Spain!!!
Just kidding,at least are longer days and after 2 swedish winters this is nothing.
Thinking about you every time i eat a polvoron.
Good luke/ana

By Ana on Sunday, 29 February - 01:25 am -0800

Dispatches Archive

The following dispatches are an archive spanning the 4-5 months that Ben spent prior to the expedition, the expedition itself, and the returning home period.

"Six hours, if we live..."

"Six hours, if we live..." - Monday, 23rd February 2004

I remember telling a reporter at Heathrow airport on Saturday morning that I felt 'stressed out' as we waited to board our flight to Moscow. My concept of what could be considered high levels of stress changed rapidly over the ensuing day. After ...read more

The pressure's on!

The pressure's on! - Wednesday, 25th February 2004

Apparently 4,500 people live in Khatanga, the frozen fishing town where we have been based for the last 48 hours, but you wouldn't know it. The whole place seems in hibernation, except for three children dressed in oversize coats kicking a football ...read more

ANOTHER day in paradise

ANOTHER day in paradise - Saturday, 28th February 2004

I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever leave Khatanga. One of the joys of being solo on the ice (if I ever get there!) is that I'm entirely in charge of my own destiny. Right now, that couldn't be further from the case - our stay in the frozen town ...

It's Déjà vu all over again

It's Déjà vu all over again - Monday, 1st March 2004

No flight, no change, no news. We were expecting to fly (finally!) at ten this morning. I set my alarm, woke up bleary-eyed at seven and dressed in full expedition gear. It was suspiciously quiet, and with a familiar sinking feeling I walked the few ...read more

D-Day minus one...

D-Day minus one... - Wednesday, 3rd March 2004

Things are looking up. It seems highly likely that we will fly tomorrow (no honestly, it does!) After a final photo shoot on the river this afternoon, we packed the sledges away for the last time and sat here with our fingers firmly crossed, I'm ...read more

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“Everest is very dangerous, but crossing the North Pole, which I attempted to do...is ten times more dangerous” - Reinhold Messner