Being just two left, they have lifted the pace
Published on 25.12.2007 - Interchange Shakleton South Pole Expedition 2007
Feeling the joint effects of altitude and freeze-dried rations, James Fox has had to be evacuated back to the Novolazarevshaya base. The two men left out on the ice are now lifting the pace...
As they advanced, the quality of the terrain was gradually improving. The trio encountered fewer crevasses and sastrugis, so they thought about progressing a little faster. The weather improvement was also on their side.
But this was without taking altitude sickness into account, which is what James Fox began to suffer from at the start of week three. As he was no longer able to eat the dehydrated food day after day, the three men took the decision to call the Russian base of Novolazarevshaya, asking them to send a plane out for the ailing James.
Since they have been left on the ice, the remaining pair has upped the rate of progress significantly. 75 kilometres covered during week one, 127 during week two and, finally, 140 kilometres during week three.
Having said that, the men are still a long way from their goal. By 20th December, they had only reached 83 degrees south!
