An unusual day weather-wise. It was almost dead calm and warm (just a couple degrees below freezing) when we packed up camp and started skiing. Two hours later, the temperature dropped and wind picked up. Skiing and chilled to the bone, we tried to eke warmth wherever we could find it - pulling our anorak hoods over the left side of our goggles, wiggling fingers and toes... Thinking about mexico.

We were all surprised at how quickly we went from situation normal to defcon three. We were instantly reminded who exactly is in charge here (and it's definitely not us). The careful moves we have been making over the past month are starting to pay large dividends. We save energy through efficiency and teamwork.

'Another day,' says Dongsheng. 'Rapid temperature changes,' added Bill. As you can see at this point in our journey, there isn't a lot that hasn't already been said.

One of our daily jobs is to cut small snow blocks and pile them in the vestibule of the tent. These will be melted and used for drinking water, rehydrating dinners and breakfasts and our lunch time soup.

With each drink, we take in a small part of this place. It is coursing through our veins and sweated out our pores. We ski and sleep on snow. Each cool gulp of air fills alveoli with oxygen from the most remote place on earth We are not so much skiing to the South Pole as into it.

We are becoming Antarctica.

Image: Larger sastrugi makes whiteout skiing tricky.

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

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com

For information about guided Antarctic expeditions, please visit http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/

For information about Bill Hanlon's foundation, please visit www.basichealthfoundation.org

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