Day 26 to the Soutpole

If anything in this existence can be called “everyday life,” I think today would be it. After 26 days on the expedition, we’re deeply into our routines and everything runs like a well-oiled machine. The morning routine flows step by step; each of us knows where the other is and what comes next on the agenda.

When we’re done packing up inside the tent, we take it down without speaking — we both know which stakes the other will pull and who handles what.

At exactly 9 o’clock we start walking. This isn’t necessarily planned, but somehow the clock is always 9 when we set off.

Then Emma walks in front for an hour, starting slowly and gradually increasing the pace as the body wakes up. After an hour we take a ten-minute break: we each eat the first row of our chocolate bar, maybe two if we’re hungry, and drink some hot water.

Then Emma says, “Well, no point standing around here doing nothing — shall we go?”

And Mom replies, “Yes, we probably should.”

Then Mom leads for an hour.

That’s how we continue: 8 hours of walking and a total of 10 hours outside with breaks and lunch. The same pace the whole day — just the right speed.

Then we reach camp, set up the tent, and everything continues in its familiar rhythm.

I think the brain likes this simple and predictable life. It’s good for the body to be used, it’s good for your health to sleep 8–9 hours every day, and it’s wonderful for the stomach to eat lots of food.

When all the core needs are met, imagination flourishes in this monotone landscape. Free from distractions and interruptions, you rediscover that childlike imagination — and I think that’s the best part of Antarctica.