The Thiel Mountains are now about 40 kms to the left of me. I can see tracks leading to the mountains so I imagine there is some kind of depot there. I have also crossed tracks of two other people, sometimes they're on skis and other times they are walking. They seem to be two days ahead of me. I would love to know who they are. It's interesting to see other peoples tracks for a change. Even though I haven't seen a soul since the 4 weeks I have been out here, it's strange to know that I'm not alone," says Mike.

I am still doing a regular 27 kms a day. The terrain, sometimes covered with sastrugi and other days not. The weather sometime clear, sometimes not. It's very hard to predict how the day will turn out. Instead one just has to take it as it comes.

I've now done 566 kms and have another 554kms to do until I reach the pole. I have to keep up this pace if I want to arrive on the Pole by the 16th – so no rest day yet!!

Hope all my friends are well. Thanks for all the Christmas messages!!"

Mike

At 23:00 UTC on the 26th Mike is at Lat:85°2.1'S and Lon:81°12.5' W.

Now Mike is around 1'300m in altitude and is expecting to rise another 2'800kms over the next five days.

The extra big chocoloate sausage full of jelly beans was a super Christmas treat for him. More that than is hard to give to him as it will only laden him with more weight.

I'm happy to be here alone on the ice but sad not to be with my family. I've phoned around and they are all enjoying each others company.

I'm struggling on. Did another 28 kms yesterday which is good. The terrain is bumpy and irregular and progress is hard.

I'm not sleeping so well these days as I find it too hot in the tent. Last night I didn't even get into my sleeping bag and of course there is continual daylight which is not condusive to sleep.

I'm happy to be here in this amazing scenery. What an amazing world we live in!

Wishing you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Mike

 His position this morning when he rang was Lat 84°18.4' S Lon 80°38.6' W.

Yesterday Mike did another 27kms and he is now past the 84°latitude and also past half the distance to the South Pole.

Mike can now see the Thiel Mountains rising about 100kms away in the distance.

Conditions remain variable, one minute sunny, one minute cloudy which is a little frustrating at times as he must stop frequently to adjust his clothing.

Mike is alone for Christmas but is thinking of his family and friends. He sends his seasons greeting to each and everyone and best wishes for an adventurous and joyful New Year!

I hope I can carry on like this. I've posted some photos of the sastrugi. They are very impressive and are getting bigger and bigger as I get closer to the pole. Each has another form, like dolphins jumping through waves etc. It keeps me entertained while I walk.

My days are long and my body its tired from pulling this heavy load. I better keep up the pace however as I still have a 686 kms to go until the Pole.

Another white-out day today. Hope it'll clear up soon! Time to take down my tent, put on my skis and start walking." Best regards! Mike

Mike says, " I fought against the wind all day yesterday. It slowed down my progress as I only did 25 kms. ¨

In general the wind is good because it blows away the fresh powder snow that falls and there is less traction for my sjed to slide on. When there is fresh soft snow I must pull harder to get my sled to move through it.

Not much to see out here – just sastrugi after sastrugi! These mushroom-like formations get higher and higher the closer I get to the pole.

I should be about 200kms away from the Thiel Mountains but I can't see anything yet!!"

"It's hard to make good progress when you see nothing in front of you. Yesterday I did 26kms but I would like to do more. There has also been quite a lot of fresh snow so it is harder to pull my sled.

A SE wind of 15 knots is blowing today. I think it's going to blow away the cloud so the day should end out to be nice and clear. I hope to recharge my baterries with my flexcell solar panels.

My position this morning is Lat 83°20' S and Lon 80°36 W

He has now reached the 83° South and has 767kms to go until the Pole.

It's snowing today, unlike yesterday, which was a beautiful day. Here two new photos have been posted.

Mike calls from Lat 82°51.9'S Lon 80°37.5'W

"My sled sank into the fresh snow that fell the day before so that slowed me down a little but I quickly regained any lost ground on a few flat areas. This is the very first time that I encountered flat ground – a very positive sign. I did 26kms yesterday and hope to have another good day today!" Mike.