We'd spent the entire day in those muddy-brown (and muddy) hills you see in the distance on the left.

It's late in the day, and we're the last ones out. We're about two miles from the trucks when I turn around and notice my partner is no longer following me. He's just a dark spot on the white plain behind me.

Expecting yet another sled malfunction, I turn back.

But he's not off his sled, trying to fix something. Instead, he's taken off his helmet, and...

Just talking.

Yeah. Even out here. On a day like this. You just can't get away from those cell phone calls.

Unless you're slow unzipping two zippers with your gloves on, and in taking your helmet off over your glasses. In that case, the vibrations against your chest usually stop before you can say 'Hello'. Phone said I missed 5 calls yesterday...