Flat snow and easy skiing made for a relaxing morning. High clouds cast pillowy shadows across the snow. If I didn't know better, I would have thought I was on the prairie. Pastoral scenes are hardly the fodder of polar travelers, but if you were here I think you would agree.

The pleasant morning made Bill a little philosophical during one break when he asked Dong (the only married member of our team) 'What are the advantages of being married?' Then after a particularly poignant response, Bill asked a follow up. 'What are the disadvantages?'

To which Dongsheng replied, 'One dollar becomes 50 cents.' We all laughed and chalked it up to another unique pearl of Dong-ized Chinese wisdom.

After lunch the wind picked up and we started climbing - a carbon copy of yesterday. During one break Bill amazed at, 'the blowing snow and spindrift that created cool images.'

Near the end of the day we encountered more sastrugi and several big drifts Elongated arched and pocked evenly with small divets they looked eerily cetaceous - eliminated any lingering thoughts of being on a prairie.

Image: The view from Bill's goggles.

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

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