Hours of Journey: 10h - Accumulative: 375h45'
Km./Day: 23,3 - Accumulative: 887,2Km. Remaining to the South Pole: 269,10Km.
Days of progress: 42 (38 Solo) - Inactive Days: 15 (0 Solo) - Total Days: 57
Position: S 87º 41,977' - W 082º 22,279'

How was Christmas? Good? I'm very happy for you, but I can't really say the same. I'm not referring to the homesickness factor, or the loneliness I have been through, as it has been ok on that front and I have felt with loads of support from everybody, eaten well and all good. I'm talking about the last two journeys, they have been very hard and complicated.

If anybody would have wanted to make me an "anti depression" test, surely would have done it these two previous days to Christmas, when one can be mentally weak for being away from home and alone in Christmas. Honestly, both journeys, on the 24th I did 25,8 Km. and on today's one I've done 23,3, have been the worst of all journeys.

Plenty of sastruguis, and an absolute irregular terrain, with constant uphill. Yesterday I found giant sastruguis and to go over was a nightmare as I worried I could break the sledge or injure myself when overcoming them. Today they were a bit smaller, but more complex to avoid them. To do any progress these last two days has consumed a lot of energy for such small performance.

And on top of everything, I have gone through the most dangerous situation in this traverse. Yesterday I had marked in the GPS possible crevices, but indicated more towards South from where I found it. And without knowing it, I found myself caught in an area with plenty of crevices, small and not so small ones... As it was the end of the day and I had 9h45 on my back, I had no energy left to get out of there so I tried to find a safe and appropriate area to put the tent up. Funny enough I found the morning after a little crevice right outside the tent...I have practically slept on top of it. But the problem has been to get out of that area during the morning. Following very carefully my course I found a massive crevice (see the photo), which I couldn't find a way to cross. So I kept following it towards west for quite some time but I could not find a safe place to cross. I had to walk for about 3Km. more to cross it safely. From there on I have avoided a few more, until I reach a safe area after a couple of hours. I hope not to find more for the rest of the expedition.

There you go... like the 23rd Dec. Chronicle... one day you're laughing and the other you're crying for any problem!

I DEDICATE THE JOURNEY TO:

To all of those who had to work for Christmas Day. Here's my support to you, as I have also been working like an animal during these last two days.