Another Antarctic morning in our unrelenting pursuit of the pole. A little warmer but windier too and we were forced to add an extra layer. We slowly clip into our Granite Gear harnesses and begin to ski. One stride, then another and another. Soon, I am lost in the task of navigating - bring my compass to level, orienting myself to 147 degrees (we are traveling relative to magnetic north), trying to pick out one unique piece of snow in billions of similar drifts and skiing toward it.

Today is bright and sunny, and even though its feels colder, the wind prevents me from overheating. My mind wanders.

On his theory of relativity Einstein said, 'I thought of that riding my bicycle.' Time and space melding into one. Would he have come to the same conclusion skiing to the pole?

After lunch, we spot a tiny black flag from a mile away. Our first resupply We are excited at the prospect of meeting our first major milestone. 'We are one-quarter the way to the pole,' Bill says. We take picture to commorate the moment. Looking at the image later in the tent Dongsheng thinks, 'we look like astronauts on the moon.' Then reflecting on what I had written to the team during training he added, 'three small souls.'

This cache represents our tenunous connection to another time and place. It reminds me of a time capsule. Instantly, it is nearly a month ago when we packed our food. Grocery shopping, zip locks, a LOT of chocolate...

'OK,' I'm all repacked,' Dong states. I am startled out of my day dream by his voice.

'Time?' I think. 'Time to ski.'

Image: The three of us skiing side by side to our first cache. Can you guess who is who?

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

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