Made the turn towards the pole today.

Hours traveled: 9.5
Miles traveled: 14
Total miles traveled: 208.8
Elevation: 4268 feet

Translation from voicemail: Hi there everybody, Marty here doing the team 3belowzero voice blogee tonight. So we made our turn towards the South Pole. We have been going in a southwesterly direction. And we made, you know, pretty much a thirty degree turn towards the pole. We’re still a little southwest, skirting around some other crevasses. But, we’re pretty much heading south now which is, was really exciting for us. So hour five today was a tough time for me, I don’t know why. All the energy drained from my body. I was leading which means I had to pay attention because I was navigating also and I just didn’t seem to have much.

So I put on a little sound track, The Band of Brothers, and that helped a little bit and I channeled three of my heroes. One of them was Major Richard Winters. So Major Winters was, led Easy Company, 101st Airborne, parachuted in on D Day, and he became famous if you’ve read the book, Band of Brothers, by Stephen Ambrose. Always been a big fan of his, very courageous, honorable, humble and always wish I would have known him.

My other hero that I thought about today was my wife, Chris. So she embodies many of those same characteristics and I wish, you know, everybody could see her out here, and how strong she is and how she motivates me to keep going. I am so lucky to be with her.

And my son Keenan is also one of my heroes. I always feel like I hit the jackpot with the K man. He’s showing such strength and confidence there at home. And I’m so proud of him. I can’t wait to get home and sit in our man chairs together, and watch some Andy Griffith and Leave It To Beaver re-runs.

And today I want to say hello to my mom and dad. They’re back in the great state of Ohio. Dad’s in Bucyrus, Ohio and mom’s in Marion, Ohio, and mom is with her husband Tom, and dad is with his wife Ann and miss all of you and I thank you for all your support, I, you did, you did well and you even did well on your other son Mike. He turned out pretty good also. So thanks a lot everybody and have a good evening.

From Marty’s email to base camp: Yes, we are still doing the same thing everyday. Ever watch Ground Hog Day with Bill Murry?. We made our turn towards the pole today. Since the wind primarily comes from the south we had been traveling across all the grooves and bumps, (sastrugi). As soon as we made the turn the difference was immediate. Much easier skiing. Sled not banging and pulling as much.