Since writing two days ago, Penguin Delta (Sarah Jones, Andre Chadwick, Juliette May and Rosie Clayton) have departed. Due to their elongated stay on the ice they missed not only their first flight South from Resolute, but also the second, the latter by a matter of a few hours - such is the way of the Arctic. This meant that the four of them had to be based here at the Rookery (base camp) at rather short notice. This gave us all a 'cosy' (or some would say cramped) few days, and I believe makes the absence now of any team in Resolute ever more pronounced. Believe it or not we miss the constant requests for something!

On more operational matters, an issue much discussed in the past between the base camp team and the guides came into focus yesterday, with repeated reports from the ice of the value of a means of crossing short but frequent stretches of open water (leads), coinciding with a rare opportunity to make an unscheduled airlift up to Penguin Echo of the two options that the base team had procured - a modified boat/pulk, and an inflatable craft.

Realistically this was also our last chance to provide a boat which could be used to shuttle team members and their equipment across leads, and thereby take the most direct route North. However, if the plane couldn't land near Penguin Echo, only the inflatable craft could have been pushed out of the rear doors of the plane during a low level pass over the team on the ice.

So Penguin Delta and the base team then set to, to prepare the crafts with sponsors' logos, purchase repair kits and rope, and to carry out minor repairs and improvements. The two crafts were then packed up for the Twin Otter to take them both North, departing Resolute Bay only 30 minutes after Delta were due to leave on the Canadian Airlines flight to Edmonton and onwards to London.

That night (Tuesday) when Penguin Echo radioed in, the option of a boat was put to them, and they agreed that a boat would be useful and that they would seek an airstrip in the morning. Meanwhile they gave their position as 88deg.53'N, 75deg.31'W, recording another fantastic 12 mile day. These girls are cruising!

This morning things were not looking good for a landing, as visibility was poor, with light snow. However, as they sought an airstrip the weather started to improve, and it looked as though we might achieve the best option - that of being able to land the plane and thereby give Penguin Echo the choice of craft, rather than having to throw the inflatable craft out as the plane flew overhead.

Thanks to the never-ending skill and patience of the pilots, who sought out an airstrip, sometime this afternoon this option was indeed realised, and Penguin Echo were able to take the boat of their choice, which was the lighter and more easily transported pulk.

With renewed vigour, or so it certainly seems to us on receiving today's Argos signal giving Penguin Echo's position and status, the ice team continued their steady progress North to the Pole.

Despite these changes of plan and inevitable resulting delays, the ice team have still managed to cover 9 miles today, a huge achievement by any standards. Tonight Penguin Echo are camped at 89deg.02'N, 72deg.39'W - 357 miles behind them, 58 miles to go.

Today's weather? We have added a great link from the links page