Camp 59
A fearfully hard pull again, and when we had marched about an hour we discovered that a sleeping bag had fallen off the sledge. W had to go back and carry it on. It cost us over an hour and disorganized our party. We have only covered 10 1/2 miles and it's been about the hardest pull we've had. We think of leaving our ski here, mainly because of the risk of breakage. Over the sastrugi it is all up and down hill, and the covering of ice crystals prevents the sledge from gliding even on the down-grade. The sastrugi, I fear, have come to stay, and we must be prepared for heavy marching, but in two days I hope to lighten loads with a depot. We are south of Shackleton's last camp, so I suppose, have made the most southerly camp.
Assuming, of course, that Amundsen isn't ahead of us.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
5 January, 1912
Camp 58
87 degrees 57 minutes South; 159 degrees 13. Minimum Temperature: -23.5.
A dreadfully trying day. Light wind from the NNW bringing detached cloud and constant fall of ice crystals. The surface, in consequence, as bad as could be after the first hour. This is the hardest we have yet done on the plateau. In the afternoon a good deal of confusing cross sastrugi, and tonight a very rough surface with evidences of hard southerly wind. Luckily the sledge shows no signs of capsizing yet.
We sigh for a breeze to sweep the hard snow, but tonight the outlook is not promising better things. However, we are very close to the 88th parallel, a little more than 120 miles from the Pole, only a march from Shackleton's final camp, and in a general way 'getting on.'
We go a little over a mile and a quarter an hour now it is a big strain as the shadows creep slowly around form our right through ahead to our left. What lots of things we think on these monotonous marches! What castles one builds now hopefully that the Pole is ours.
We feel the cold very little, the great comfort of our situation is the excellent drying effect of the sun. Our socks and finnesko are almost dry each morning. Cooking for five takes a seriously longer time than cooking for four; perhaps half an hour on the whole day.
It is an item I had not considered when reorganizing.
I wonder where Amundsen is. I haven't seen any sign of him anywhere. He must be behind us.
87 degrees 57 minutes South; 159 degrees 13. Minimum Temperature: -23.5.
A dreadfully trying day. Light wind from the NNW bringing detached cloud and constant fall of ice crystals. The surface, in consequence, as bad as could be after the first hour. This is the hardest we have yet done on the plateau. In the afternoon a good deal of confusing cross sastrugi, and tonight a very rough surface with evidences of hard southerly wind. Luckily the sledge shows no signs of capsizing yet.
We sigh for a breeze to sweep the hard snow, but tonight the outlook is not promising better things. However, we are very close to the 88th parallel, a little more than 120 miles from the Pole, only a march from Shackleton's final camp, and in a general way 'getting on.'
We go a little over a mile and a quarter an hour now it is a big strain as the shadows creep slowly around form our right through ahead to our left. What lots of things we think on these monotonous marches! What castles one builds now hopefully that the Pole is ours.
We feel the cold very little, the great comfort of our situation is the excellent drying effect of the sun. Our socks and finnesko are almost dry each morning. Cooking for five takes a seriously longer time than cooking for four; perhaps half an hour on the whole day.
It is an item I had not considered when reorganizing.
I wonder where Amundsen is. I haven't seen any sign of him anywhere. He must be behind us.
4 January, 1912
Camp 57
We were naturally late getting away this morning, the sledge having to be packed and arrangements completed for separation of parties. It is wonderful to see how neatly everything stows on a little sledge, thanks to PO Evans. (He's still favoring one hand._ I was anxious to see how we could pull it, and glad to find we went easy enough. Bowers on foot pulls between, but behind, Wilson and myself; he has to keep his own pace and luckily does not throw us out at all. Oates looks grumpy and limps a little.
The second party had followed us in case of accident, but as soon I was certain we could get along we stopped and said farewell. Teddy Evans is terribly disappointed but has taken it very well and behaved like a man. Poor old Crean wept and even Lashly was affected. I was glad to find their sledge is a mere nothing to them, and thus, no doubt, they will make a quick journey back. (Assuming of course that none of them gets Scurvy like bloody Shackleton!)
In the afternoon the wind died away, and tonight it is flat calm; the sun so warm that in spite of the temperature we can stand about outside with the greatest comfort. It is amusing to stand thus and remember the constant horrors of our situation as they were painted for us; the sun is melting the snow on the ski, etc. The plateau is now very flat, but we are still ascending slowly.
I wonder what is in store for us.At present everything seems to be going with extraordinary smoothness, and one can scarcely believe that obstacles will not present themselves to make our task more difficult.
Perhaps the surface will be the element to trouble us.
Or maybe not.
We were naturally late getting away this morning, the sledge having to be packed and arrangements completed for separation of parties. It is wonderful to see how neatly everything stows on a little sledge, thanks to PO Evans. (He's still favoring one hand._ I was anxious to see how we could pull it, and glad to find we went easy enough. Bowers on foot pulls between, but behind, Wilson and myself; he has to keep his own pace and luckily does not throw us out at all. Oates looks grumpy and limps a little.
The second party had followed us in case of accident, but as soon I was certain we could get along we stopped and said farewell. Teddy Evans is terribly disappointed but has taken it very well and behaved like a man. Poor old Crean wept and even Lashly was affected. I was glad to find their sledge is a mere nothing to them, and thus, no doubt, they will make a quick journey back. (Assuming of course that none of them gets Scurvy like bloody Shackleton!)
In the afternoon the wind died away, and tonight it is flat calm; the sun so warm that in spite of the temperature we can stand about outside with the greatest comfort. It is amusing to stand thus and remember the constant horrors of our situation as they were painted for us; the sun is melting the snow on the ski, etc. The plateau is now very flat, but we are still ascending slowly.
I wonder what is in store for us.At present everything seems to be going with extraordinary smoothness, and one can scarcely believe that obstacles will not present themselves to make our task more difficult.
Perhaps the surface will be the element to trouble us.
Or maybe not.
3rd January, 1912
Camp 56
Height lunch: 10,110; Night: 10,180.
Last night I decided to reorganize, and this morning told off Teddy Evans, Lashly, and Crean to return. They are disappointed, but take it well. Bowers is to come into our tent, and we proceed as a five-man unit tomorrow. We have 5 1/2 units of food—practically over a month's allowance for five people—it ought to see us through.
We came along well on ski today, but the foot haulers were slow, and so we only got a trifle over 12 miles. Very anxious to see how we shall manage tomorrow; if we can march well with the full load we shall be practically safe, I take it.
The surface was very bad in patches today and the wind was strong.
Have sent back my last letters, and told Kathleen that we are in a very hopeful position, and that I think it's going to be alright. I told her we have a fine party and that arrangements are going well.
Going ahead with five instead of four will be alright, won't it? Everyone looked pretty startled when I announced that, but I have my reasons. And that's all I am going to say on the matter.
Poor Bowers, of course, has no ski, so he shall be slogging it on foot.
Height lunch: 10,110; Night: 10,180.
Last night I decided to reorganize, and this morning told off Teddy Evans, Lashly, and Crean to return. They are disappointed, but take it well. Bowers is to come into our tent, and we proceed as a five-man unit tomorrow. We have 5 1/2 units of food—practically over a month's allowance for five people—it ought to see us through.
We came along well on ski today, but the foot haulers were slow, and so we only got a trifle over 12 miles. Very anxious to see how we shall manage tomorrow; if we can march well with the full load we shall be practically safe, I take it.
The surface was very bad in patches today and the wind was strong.
Have sent back my last letters, and told Kathleen that we are in a very hopeful position, and that I think it's going to be alright. I told her we have a fine party and that arrangements are going well.
Going ahead with five instead of four will be alright, won't it? Everyone looked pretty startled when I announced that, but I have my reasons. And that's all I am going to say on the matter.
Poor Bowers, of course, has no ski, so he shall be slogging it on foot.
2nd January, 1912
Camp 55
Height about 9980.
The foot party went off early, before 8, and marched till 1. Again from 2:35 to 6:30. We started more than half an hour later on each march and caught the others easy. It's been a plod for the foot people and pretty easygoing for us, and we have covered 13 miles.
The sky is slightly overcast for the first time since we left the glacier'; the sun can be seen already through a veil of stratus, and blue sky around the horizon. I hope the clouds do not mean wind or a bad surface. The latter became poor towards the end of the afternoon. We have not risen much today and the plain seems to be flattening out. A skua gull visited us on the march this afternoon—it was evidently curious, kept alighting on the snow ahead. and fluttering a few yards as we approached. It seemed to have had little food—an extraordinary visitor considering our distance from the sea.
Have been doing a lot of thinking about which of us will be going on with me to the Pole. I know that for two years I have been planning on a group of four; indeed, all of our provisions and equipment are designed for that—but I'm just now thinking of taking five. That won't effect us much, will it?
Height about 9980.
The foot party went off early, before 8, and marched till 1. Again from 2:35 to 6:30. We started more than half an hour later on each march and caught the others easy. It's been a plod for the foot people and pretty easygoing for us, and we have covered 13 miles.
The sky is slightly overcast for the first time since we left the glacier'; the sun can be seen already through a veil of stratus, and blue sky around the horizon. I hope the clouds do not mean wind or a bad surface. The latter became poor towards the end of the afternoon. We have not risen much today and the plain seems to be flattening out. A skua gull visited us on the march this afternoon—it was evidently curious, kept alighting on the snow ahead. and fluttering a few yards as we approached. It seemed to have had little food—an extraordinary visitor considering our distance from the sea.
Have been doing a lot of thinking about which of us will be going on with me to the Pole. I know that for two years I have been planning on a group of four; indeed, all of our provisions and equipment are designed for that—but I'm just now thinking of taking five. That won't effect us much, will it?
Saturday, January 1, 2011
1st January, 1912 New Year's Day
Camp 54
Roused hands at 7:30 and got away at 9:30. Evan's party going ahead on foot. We followed on ski. We stupidly had not seen to our ski shoes beforehand, and it took a good half-hour to get them right. Wilson especially had trouble. When we did get away, to our surprise the sledge pulled very easily, and we made fine progress, rapidly gaining on the foot-haulers.
We have scarcely exerted ourselves all day. We are very comfortable in our double tent. Stick of chocolate to celebrate the new year. The supporting party not in very high spirits, they have not managed matters well for themselves. Prospects seem to get brighter -- only 170 miles to go and plenty of food left.
Roused hands at 7:30 and got away at 9:30. Evan's party going ahead on foot. We followed on ski. We stupidly had not seen to our ski shoes beforehand, and it took a good half-hour to get them right. Wilson especially had trouble. When we did get away, to our surprise the sledge pulled very easily, and we made fine progress, rapidly gaining on the foot-haulers.
We have scarcely exerted ourselves all day. We are very comfortable in our double tent. Stick of chocolate to celebrate the new year. The supporting party not in very high spirits, they have not managed matters well for themselves. Prospects seem to get brighter -- only 170 miles to go and plenty of food left.
31 December, 1911 New Year's Eve
Camp 53
The second party deposited its ski and some other weights equivalent to 100 lbs. I sent them off first; they marched, but not fast. We have been rising all day.
We had a good full brew of tea and then set to work stripping the sledges. That didn't take long, but the process of building up the 10-feet sledges now in operation in the other tent is a long job. Evans PO and Crean are tackling it, and it is a very remarkable piece of work. Certainly PO Evans is the most invaluable asset to our party. To build a sledge under these conditions is a fact for special record.
We will put a depot here and call it the 3 Degree Depot, since we are so close to the 87th parallel.
There is extraordinarily little mirage up here and the refraction is very small. Except for the four seamen we are all sitting in a double tent—the first time we have put up the inner lining to the tent; it seems to make us much snugger.
10pm.
The job of rebuilding is taking longer than I expected but now it is almost done. The 10-feet sledges look very handy. We had an extra drink of tea and are now turned into our bags in the double tent (five of us) as warm as toast, and just enough light to write or work with.
Evans couldn't say what took them so long, and was acting very gingerly with his hand. Very curious.
The second party deposited its ski and some other weights equivalent to 100 lbs. I sent them off first; they marched, but not fast. We have been rising all day.
We had a good full brew of tea and then set to work stripping the sledges. That didn't take long, but the process of building up the 10-feet sledges now in operation in the other tent is a long job. Evans PO and Crean are tackling it, and it is a very remarkable piece of work. Certainly PO Evans is the most invaluable asset to our party. To build a sledge under these conditions is a fact for special record.
We will put a depot here and call it the 3 Degree Depot, since we are so close to the 87th parallel.
There is extraordinarily little mirage up here and the refraction is very small. Except for the four seamen we are all sitting in a double tent—the first time we have put up the inner lining to the tent; it seems to make us much snugger.
10pm.
The job of rebuilding is taking longer than I expected but now it is almost done. The 10-feet sledges look very handy. We had an extra drink of tea and are now turned into our bags in the double tent (five of us) as warm as toast, and just enough light to write or work with.
Evans couldn't say what took them so long, and was acting very gingerly with his hand. Very curious.
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