1 day to go

Friday 20th March 11:30am

Coldest morning so far at -29C with clear skies and bright sunshine. Kit check at 08:30 and registration at 10am. The camp is now filling up as most of the racers have arrived.

Pete has now moved down from the Hotel into camp and there is much sorting of kit as everyone makes their final preparation. Some racers have very small sleds mounted on skis, I’m thinking that I have packed too much kit but can’t find anything to leave out.

Kit as follows:
Wear on start line:
- Trail shoes with sewn on pertex gaiter + Dion racing snowshoes
- 2 pairs of wool socks
- Heavyweight thermal leggings and merino wool top
- Lightweight pertex leggings and jacket
- Fleece hat and neoprene face-mask
- Neck buff
- Sun glasses
- Thin thermal gloves + fleece lined pertex mitts
- Maybe MP3 player

Packed in sled:
- Racing sled with single pole towing system and climbing harness
- Food for first 3 days (dehydrated meals + a variety of energy foods and a balance of fats, protein and salt including peparami, cheese, chocolate, nuts…)
- Sleeping bag (rated -40C) + Gortex Bivi bag
- Expedition featherlite inflatable mattress + vapour barrier plastic sheeting
- Stove, fuel bottle, pan, cup, spoon, matches, lighter
- Passport, credit card and cash (that I wont need)
- Camp / emergency clothes: set of thermals, fleece jacket and trousers, socks, down booties, arctic grade gloves
- Toiletries
- Thermos
- Shoe spikes
- Map, compass, pens, whistle, notepad
- GPS and head-torch with spare batteries
- Medical kit + sled repair kit
- Spare hats, balaclava, fleece neck cover and goggles
- Camera + spare batteries and SD cards

Weighing in at an estimated 16 to 19kg!

There are 3 races all starting at 9am tomorrow:

Single day race and relay
3 day race – kit transported to the camps
6 day race – all kit required to be pulled on the pulk, re-stock fuel and food on night 3 back at MATRIX village. Mileage each day is: 29, 27, 26, 19, 15, 24.

See updates and photos of the Race from Josh’e blog at: http://www.joshcaple.com/blog/

Also official coverage of the race on-line at: www.sleepmonsters.com

I hope to provide another update later today but if not wish me luck and I’ll blog again at the end of day 3, Monday 23rd (we are 6 hours ahead of GMT).

PM today:
Surviving the rock and Ice (Arctic Response rescue team): 13:00-16:00
Race Briefing and Pasta Party: 17:00

If you can spare a couple of pounds in sponshorship please visit: www.justgiving.com/chrishughes1

Thursday 19th March

Had a good 10 hours kip on the ice, Antonio and Sergio from Spain joined me in the tent last night. Again headed up to the town centre to get some new shades (the ones I had steamed up) and final food shopping.

I had fitted the Teflon skids to the sled the previous night and tested the sled with Pete for an hour on the ice.

Back to the Black Night pub for the Media Dinner and back for an early night.

Jessy from Korea and 2 ladies from Japan have now joined us in our fine heated tent.