Temperature: -15.
We've had a horrid day and not covered good mileage. On turning out found sky overcast; a beastly position amidst crevasses. Luckily it cleared just before we started. We went straight for Mt. Darwin, but in half an hour found ourselves amongst huge open chasms, unbridged, but not very deep, I think. We turned to the north between two, but to our chagrin they converged into chaotic disturbance. We had to retrace our steps for a mile or so, then struck to the west. We put up sail, and Evans' nose suffered, Wilson very cold, everything horrid.
Towards the end of the afternoon march we realized the certainty of maintaining a more or less straight course to the depot, and estimate distance is 10 to 15 miles.
Food is low and weather uncertain, so that many hours of the day were anxious; but this evening, though we are not as far advanced as I expected, the outlook is much more promising.
Evans is the chief anxiety now; his cuts and wounds suppurate, his nose looks very bad, and altogether he shows considerable signs of being played out. Things may mend for him on the glacier, and his wounds get some respite under warmer conditions.
I am indeed glad to think we shall so soon have done with plateau conditions. It took us 27 days to reach the Pole and 21 days back—in all 48 days—nearly 7 weeks in low temperatures with almost incessant wind.
I wonder How long Amundsen was up here?
Monday, February 7, 2011
5 February, 1912
Temperature -17.
A good forenoon, few crevasses; we covered 10.2 miles. In the afternoon we soon got into difficulties. We saw the land very clearly, but the difficulty is to get at it. An hour after starting we came on huge pressures and great street crevasses partly open. We had to steer more and more to the west, so that our course was very erratic. Late in the march we turned more to the north and again encountered open crevasses across our track. It is very difficult maneuvering amongst these and I should not like to do it without ski.
We are camped in a very disturbed region, but the wind has fallen very light here, and our camp is comfortable for the first time for many weeks. We may be anything from 25 to 30 miles from our depot, but I wish to goodness we could see a way through the disturbances ahead.
Our faces are much cut up by all the wind we have had, mine least of all; the others tell me they feel their noses more going with than against wind. Evans' nose is almost as bad as his fingers. He is a good deal crocked up.
A good forenoon, few crevasses; we covered 10.2 miles. In the afternoon we soon got into difficulties. We saw the land very clearly, but the difficulty is to get at it. An hour after starting we came on huge pressures and great street crevasses partly open. We had to steer more and more to the west, so that our course was very erratic. Late in the march we turned more to the north and again encountered open crevasses across our track. It is very difficult maneuvering amongst these and I should not like to do it without ski.
We are camped in a very disturbed region, but the wind has fallen very light here, and our camp is comfortable for the first time for many weeks. We may be anything from 25 to 30 miles from our depot, but I wish to goodness we could see a way through the disturbances ahead.
Our faces are much cut up by all the wind we have had, mine least of all; the others tell me they feel their noses more going with than against wind. Evans' nose is almost as bad as his fingers. He is a good deal crocked up.
Friday, February 4, 2011
4 February, 1912
Temperature: -23
Pulled on foot in the morning over good hard surface and covered 9.7 miles. Just before lunch unexpectedly fell into crevasses, Evans and I together—a second fall for Evans, and I camped.
We have come down some hundreds of feet on a good hard surface. Half way in the march the land showed up splendidly, and I decided to make straight for Mt. Darwin, which we are rounding. Every sign points to getting away off this plateau. The temperature is 20 degrees lower than when we were here before; the party is not improving in condition, especially Evans, who is becoming rather dull and incapable.
Thank the Lord we have good food at each meal, but we get hungrier in spite of it.
Bowers is splendid, full of energy and bustle all the time.
I hope we are not going to have trouble with ice falls.
Pulled on foot in the morning over good hard surface and covered 9.7 miles. Just before lunch unexpectedly fell into crevasses, Evans and I together—a second fall for Evans, and I camped.
We have come down some hundreds of feet on a good hard surface. Half way in the march the land showed up splendidly, and I decided to make straight for Mt. Darwin, which we are rounding. Every sign points to getting away off this plateau. The temperature is 20 degrees lower than when we were here before; the party is not improving in condition, especially Evans, who is becoming rather dull and incapable.
Thank the Lord we have good food at each meal, but we get hungrier in spite of it.
Bowers is splendid, full of energy and bustle all the time.
I hope we are not going to have trouble with ice falls.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
3rd February, 1912
Temperature: -20.
Started pretty well on foot; came to steep slope with crevasses (few). I went on ski to avoid another fall, and we took the slope gently with our sail, constantly losing the track, but picked up a much weathered cairn on our right. Vexatious delays, searching for tracks, etc, reduced morning march to 8.1 miles. Afternoon came along a little better, but again lost tracks on hard slope.
Tonight we are near camp of December 26, but cannot see cairn. Have decided it is a waste of time looking for tracks and cairn, and shall push on due north as fast as we can.
The surface is greatly changed since we passed outward, in most places polished smooth, but with heaps of new toothed sastrugi which are disagreeable obstacles.
Evans' fingers are going on as well as can be expected, but it will be long before he is able to help properly with the work. Wilson's leg is much better, and my shoulder also, though it gives bad twinges.
The extra food is doing us all good, but we ought to have more sleep. Very few more days on the plateau hope.
Started pretty well on foot; came to steep slope with crevasses (few). I went on ski to avoid another fall, and we took the slope gently with our sail, constantly losing the track, but picked up a much weathered cairn on our right. Vexatious delays, searching for tracks, etc, reduced morning march to 8.1 miles. Afternoon came along a little better, but again lost tracks on hard slope.
Tonight we are near camp of December 26, but cannot see cairn. Have decided it is a waste of time looking for tracks and cairn, and shall push on due north as fast as we can.
The surface is greatly changed since we passed outward, in most places polished smooth, but with heaps of new toothed sastrugi which are disagreeable obstacles.
Evans' fingers are going on as well as can be expected, but it will be long before he is able to help properly with the work. Wilson's leg is much better, and my shoulder also, though it gives bad twinges.
The extra food is doing us all good, but we ought to have more sleep. Very few more days on the plateau hope.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
2nd February, 1912
We started well on a strong southerly wind. Soon got to a steep grade, when the sledge overran and upset us one after another. We got off our ski, and pulling on foot reeled off 9 miles by lunch at 1:30. Started in the afternoon going very strong. We came across a steep slope and all went well till, in trying to keep the track at the same time as my feet, on a very slippery surface, I had a nasty fall on my shoulder. It is horribly sore tonight and another sick person added to our tent—three out of five injured, and the most troublesome surfaces to come.
We shall be lucky if we get through without serious injury.
Wilson's leg is better, but might easily get bad again, and Evans' fingers are beyond the pale.
We managed to get in 17 miles today. The extra food is certainly helping us, but we are getting pretty hungry. The weather is already a trifle warmer and the altitude lower, and only 80 miles or so to Mount Darwin. It is time we were off the summit—Pray God another four days will see us pretty well clear of it. Our bags are getting very wet and we ought to have more sleep.
We shall be lucky if we get through without serious injury.
Wilson's leg is better, but might easily get bad again, and Evans' fingers are beyond the pale.
We managed to get in 17 miles today. The extra food is certainly helping us, but we are getting pretty hungry. The weather is already a trifle warmer and the altitude lower, and only 80 miles or so to Mount Darwin. It is time we were off the summit—Pray God another four days will see us pretty well clear of it. Our bags are getting very wet and we ought to have more sleep.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
1st February, 1912
Heavy collar work most of the day. Wind light. Did 8 miles. Started well in the afternoon and came down a steep slope in quick time; then the surface turned real bad—sandy drifts—very heavy pulling.
Working past 8PM we just fetched a lunch cairn of Dec 29, when we were only a week out from the depot. It ought to be easy to get in with a margin, having 8 days' food in hand (full feeding). We have opened out on the increase in food and it makes a lot of difference.
Wilson's leg much better. Evans' fingers now very bad, two nails coming off, blisters burst.
Working past 8PM we just fetched a lunch cairn of Dec 29, when we were only a week out from the depot. It ought to be easy to get in with a margin, having 8 days' food in hand (full feeding). We have opened out on the increase in food and it makes a lot of difference.
Wilson's leg much better. Evans' fingers now very bad, two nails coming off, blisters burst.
Monday, January 31, 2011
31 January, 1912
Temperature: -20.
The day opened up fine with a fair breeze; we marched on the depot, picked it up, and lunched an hour later. In the afternoon the surface became fearfully bad, and the wind dropped. Ill luck that this should happen just when we have only four men to pull. Wilson rested his leg as much as possible by walking quietly beside the sledge; the result has been good, and tonight there is much less inflammation. I hope he will be all right again soon, but it is trying to have an injured limb in the party.
This afternoon we picked up Bowers' ski—the last thing we have to find on the summit, thank Heaven! Now we have only to go north and so shall welcome strong winds.
Evans does grimace so.
The day opened up fine with a fair breeze; we marched on the depot, picked it up, and lunched an hour later. In the afternoon the surface became fearfully bad, and the wind dropped. Ill luck that this should happen just when we have only four men to pull. Wilson rested his leg as much as possible by walking quietly beside the sledge; the result has been good, and tonight there is much less inflammation. I hope he will be all right again soon, but it is trying to have an injured limb in the party.
This afternoon we picked up Bowers' ski—the last thing we have to find on the summit, thank Heaven! Now we have only to go north and so shall welcome strong winds.
Evans does grimace so.
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