Albert yesterday afternoon sent this email:

After yesterday's terrific effort to get to where we are now, carrying our heavy sledges on such steep hill with so much powder and without knowing where to stand as visibility levers were so low, we planted our tent underneath an ice barrier of approximately 2 kilometers long. We could see loads of crevices around us and it would have been crazy to carry on in such conditions.

The main thing today it has been again the visibility and because of the number of crevices around us we will stay indoors. We are only 2 kilometers away of a safe GPS point, but in order to get there we have to go up again and go around this massive ice barrier. Wind conditions are not great, but good enough to advance. We only need to be able to see better!!!

Everyone knows that from the sea to Latitude 81º, there is the most complicated part of our journey to the South Pole. And we are doing this part in the worst possible conditions, of wind, visibility and snow.

Now we understand why the "Al Filo de lo Imposible" group said the first 100 kilometers made them almost abandon because of its toughness. And we now also understand why it has so much value to do it without any support, as they carried sledges of only 80 kilograms, and deposits along the way. We are doing the same with 135 Kg. sledges.

Despite not having fast internet access (we can only send and receive small emails) we are receiving every 3-4 days all the messages you are leaving on our site. We read them all: some are very funny, some do really touch us, and above all, all of them are helping us a lot to get through this misery. We will not have extra food or material supplies during our expedition, but we are getting a lot of "energetic assistance" with your messages and comments. Many thanks to all of you, it means a lot.

Breaking news after last Albert and Carles call, the night of the 14th of November:

At mid afternoon, visibility has improved and we have been able to go outside to inspect the terrain around us: We have seen clearly where to cross and avoid the crevices that resulted not to be more than a feet in length, so no problem.

Nando Gel sent us some exciting weather news...There is a general improvement and it is going to be like that for the next five days... Fingers crossed and let's see if it is our time now!!!!