PROGRESS REPORT No. 15
Map relating to this progress report
Map 3
Almost Midnight, Wednesday Sept.1st.
Unfortunately, there's little progress to report, none at all in fact.
For the last four days we've been pinned down, with heavy polar pack ice all ahead, right into the shore.
You might think that that being so we've been idle, just hanging around, nicely anchored, waiting-not so. We've not been in the one spot for more than a few hours at a time, anchored to floes, constantly moving as the ice blows around and down on us; And to complicate matters, some of the ground we've had to cover while dodging ice has been shallow. Earlier this evening, for about 2 hours, we were travelling in water less than two and a half metres deep; going aground four times, all in water very exposed to nearby ice blowing down on us.
Happily, we're now anchored in the shelter of an island where the ice shouldn't bother us, not for another day or so anyhow.
The outlook is that we're going to be here for several days more before the polar pack will move out of our way, we hope!
You might think that this would have us in very bad form, not at all; frustrated and impatient certainly, but our cooking is good, from our diminishing stock, and our spirits remain high and determined.
I could be writing a bit about the history, but am not inclined to. Up the way from where we now are, Amundson was iced in in the Maud on September 17th, 1918.
One of his crew insisted on leaving, a 400 mile overland trip to Dickson. Amundson called for a volunteer to go with him. Every man volunteered! Not a happy ship.
We send photos to Brendan over our email system for him to select and put on our website. We hope you like them.
PS, We had a visit from another polar bear, he / she came to within about 10 feet of the boat, far too close.
Group at Bonfire
Young Polar Bear with paws
Polar Bear Climbing Onto Ice
Young Polar Bear at 75-15N
Close up of Young Bear
The Boys are Doing Thier Best
Slava at Bonfire
Jarlath Collecting Firewood
