The terrain
This movement of ice also accounts for the varied terrain. Whilst there are some expanses of relatively flat, easy-to-ski ice or pans as they are called, there is also rubble,there are ice ridges and, worst of all, there are open water leads.
Rubble
Rubble is an area of collapsed ice. Some areas are so large they can last for several days and resemble a series of collapsed building sites. We will try to skirt around the outside of them, but sometimes there is no option but to rumble through the rubble. Lets hope we don’t have to camp in the middle of one as it’s the worst place to sleep!
Ice Ridges
Ice ridges are areas of closed up leads (see below). As an open lead closes back up, the edges of the opposite ice pans meet and collide. The edges break from the pressure and pile up on top of each other. Old ridges are white and low as they gradually melt away. New ridges are electric blue or green and often up to 15 feet tall (but can reach over 50 feet). Sometimes one ridge follows another and another in a monstrous maze.
Ridges are strenuous to cross. You must remove your skis and climb vertical ice pans that are sharp and slippery. You also have to manhandle your heavy sledge over the peaks. A real test of upper body strength, we will soon find out who did not do their gym work! It’s also a true danger area both for us and our kit. Imagine throwing your skis and poles over a ridge, climbing up, hauling the sledge to the top then throwing it down the other side. Skis and sledges can get broken, not to mention ankles and shins This has caused many an unsupported expedition to fail.
Open Water Leads
Last but not least are leads, one of our greatest fears. This is the single thing most likely to cause our failure to get to the pole. Leads are areas of open water where two ice pans have moved apart. Sometimes they are a few feet wide and can be crossed with a giant step, sometimes by using your sledge as a bridge. However some can be many metres wide. Should we find this, we will send a few people left and right on a scouting mission to find a safe crossing point. Failing that we will just have to wait for the lead to close up again. The temperature is so cold that leads are constantly closing; the ice grows at around one inch of depth every 12 hours and you can walk over ice which is two inches deep. As the trip progresses we hope all to become experts at spotting the quality and depth of ice. Apparently it’s all in the colour - which is not great for the bulk of us who are either colour blind or partially sighted! You have to be on your guard at all times as leads can open up very quickly, up to 150 feet in 30 minutes. If you are slow it is possible to find the main pan floating away from you and yourself isolated on a wobbly floating pan surrounded by water!
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