November 21, 2009
Day 5: Polar Lexicon
I haven't quite conquered Antarctic mornings but I'm getting close. I managed to set my alarm but forgot to turn it on. Special polar props go to Bill for giving me an early nudge (again).
We are settling nicely into our expediton routine and just now starting to divide up the daily tasks. The wind was so up we were anxious to start skiing. With a steady pace, we slowly distanced ourselves from the hills behind and eventually climbed high enough to view a nearly limitless Antarctic horizon. I stretched my fingers forward to see if I could touch the south pole. No luck.
We thought we would give you some insight into how we communicate on a daily basis with the following list:
Polar Plod - our steady skiing pace designed to save as much energy as possible.
TIAB - This is Antarctica Baby - a phrase used to describe why or how something is occurring. Most often used in a humerous way.
GTG - good to go - affitmatoion of readiness. Eating, skiing, etc...
GTK - good to know. Affirmation of a random fact. For example, Eric, 'I once caught a really big catfish.' Bill, 'GTK.'
POS - Anything that doesn't work, is poorly designed or will most likely fail soon.
Sastrugi - Snowdrifts.
Spindrft - blowing and drifting snow
Ice - depending on intonation or sentence structure can mean any of the following: snow, Antarctica, glacier, ice, icicle, sastrugi, or anything cold.
Bearing - the direction we are traveling each day in relation to the magnetic north pole.
Nautical Mile - 1.14 statue miles 1.84 kilometers. 60 nautical miles equals one degree of latitude.
Cache - also referred to as a resupply. Any depot of food or supplies layed by ALE.
Iridium - the phone we use to call ALE base camp at Patriot Hills with our daily progress and status. Only phone that works at both poles.
Cook - the member of the team responsible for sweeping out the tent, setting up the MSR cook system, melting snow and filling up everyone's water bottles, Stanley soup thermoses and dinner water. A good cook on the trail only requires the ability to boil water.
Ruff - the fur sewed on to our Sierra Designs anorak hoods. This protects our faces from the wind.
Nose beak - then nylon and fleece protector sewn into the bottom of our goggles.
Home - our little tent
In related news, Dong is pleased with the improvements on his binding and Bill succinctly stated, 'it was a good one today!'
Image: Bill and Dong on a bluebird day in Antarctica.
Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.
For more information, please visit www.savethepoles.com
For information about guided Antarctic expeditions, please visit http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/
For information about Bill Hanlon's foundation, please visit www.basichealthinternational.org
For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]
For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net
We are settling nicely into our expediton routine and just now starting to divide up the daily tasks. The wind was so up we were anxious to start skiing. With a steady pace, we slowly distanced ourselves from the hills behind and eventually climbed high enough to view a nearly limitless Antarctic horizon. I stretched my fingers forward to see if I could touch the south pole. No luck.
We thought we would give you some insight into how we communicate on a daily basis with the following list:
Polar Plod - our steady skiing pace designed to save as much energy as possible.
TIAB - This is Antarctica Baby - a phrase used to describe why or how something is occurring. Most often used in a humerous way.
GTG - good to go - affitmatoion of readiness. Eating, skiing, etc...
GTK - good to know. Affirmation of a random fact. For example, Eric, 'I once caught a really big catfish.' Bill, 'GTK.'
POS - Anything that doesn't work, is poorly designed or will most likely fail soon.
Sastrugi - Snowdrifts.
Spindrft - blowing and drifting snow
Ice - depending on intonation or sentence structure can mean any of the following: snow, Antarctica, glacier, ice, icicle, sastrugi, or anything cold.
Bearing - the direction we are traveling each day in relation to the magnetic north pole.
Nautical Mile - 1.14 statue miles 1.84 kilometers. 60 nautical miles equals one degree of latitude.
Cache - also referred to as a resupply. Any depot of food or supplies layed by ALE.
Iridium - the phone we use to call ALE base camp at Patriot Hills with our daily progress and status. Only phone that works at both poles.
Cook - the member of the team responsible for sweeping out the tent, setting up the MSR cook system, melting snow and filling up everyone's water bottles, Stanley soup thermoses and dinner water. A good cook on the trail only requires the ability to boil water.
Ruff - the fur sewed on to our Sierra Designs anorak hoods. This protects our faces from the wind.
Nose beak - then nylon and fleece protector sewn into the bottom of our goggles.
Home - our little tent
In related news, Dong is pleased with the improvements on his binding and Bill succinctly stated, 'it was a good one today!'
Image: Bill and Dong on a bluebird day in Antarctica.
Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.
For more information, please visit www.savethepoles.com
For information about guided Antarctic expeditions, please visit http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/
For information about Bill Hanlon's foundation, please visit www.basichealthinternational.org
For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]
For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net