31 January, 1911

Tried out a pair of pony snow-shoes this afternoon on Weary Willie, and the effect was magical! He was able to walk easily in places where before he's floundered woefully. Why didn't we think of this before? Oates is very circumspect about them, but once I discovered that snow-shoes for all the ponies had been left at Cape Evans, I immediately sent Meares and Wilson back the 20 miles to fetch them.

There was not a lot we can do in the meantime. I do hope the ice hasn't gone out and that they can both get to and back from Cape Evans to rejoin us.

Atkinson's heel is suppurating, reportedly.

All this bother about feet! I made a crack about Douglas Mawson but no-one appeared to think it very funny. He was offered a place on this expedition but the bugger turned me down! He had terrible trouble with his feet when Shackleton had him on Nimrod. One of his soles actually fell off returning from the Magnetic Pole! I think he had to tie it back on to his foot with a bandage of some sort. I mean the actual sole of his foot, not the sole of his boot.

Some people have no sense of humor.

30 January, 1911

Safety Camp, camp 3, at last.

We took a long time getting going this morning; we're going to have to buck up in that department. Atkinson had his foot lanced, and should be better in a few days. It's awful walking on rotten feet -- I hope I never have to!

The ponies went very slowly - sinking in the snow. They were very hot by the time they were done. I held a council of war after lunch and unfolded my plan: to take 5 week's worth of food for man and animals and depot a fortnight's supply after 12 or 13 days then return here. That way, the load for the ponies will work out at around 600lbs, and for the dogs 700lbs, not including the sledges. They should be able to do it if the surface is good, but that is doubtful. Oh well. It's the best we can do under the circumstances.

Shackleton's Nimrod tent proves that food can be left here for a good while without harm, which bodes well for us.

28 January, 1911

We are finding plenty of seals at rest and play in the water shallows between Camp One and Two.

Keohane's pony has gone lame, which Oates takes a very gloomy view of, but he is not an optimist. Keohane talks to his pony to cheer him on -- he says "Come on, lad; you'll be getting to the Pole." I don't think the Pony is too impressed by the opportunity.

Bowers's pony is weak in the forelegs, and it's only a question of how long he will last. If only these beasts didn't sink so much in the snow! If only there was a way to prevent their hoofs from pushing through the surface so readily! Perhaps they are pulling too much -- 900lbs each, roughly.

Atkinson has a bad heel, so his pony was tied up behind another sledge.

As we reached the Barrier we saw the tops of two tents half buried in the snow -- they are Shackleton's we suppose. A moulting Emperor penguin was sleeping between them. The men stripped the fabric away to see what was inside, and found that though the canvas was rotted, the bamboos were all sound, so we shall use them. They also found a primus stove, which I lighted and found to be in perfect working order. We will take that with us, too. Along with this was a cache of food which has lain there for years: Rowntrees cocoa, Bovril, Brand's extract of beef, sheep's tongues, cheese and biscuits.

They were perfectly preserved and everyone seemed jolly glad to add them to our meager diet, and although it was obvious they delighted in the additional flavors, they made sure to try to hide their glee from me, knowing as they do that I take a very dim view of that Irishman's slovenly ways. I mean, leaving a tent full of food out here like that! What was he thinking! And what was he doing sledging with all that to eat! Cheese! Whatever next!

29 January, 1911

Read prayers after breakfast. It's not my cup of tea, particularly, but the men like it and I enjoy the duty.

Ponies and dogs all running well. The dogs went much further than expected and are getting into better condition every day. They took loads all the way to Safety Camp, the place on the Barrier we have designated as being "safe" if and when the sea ice finally goes out. We will store a depot there, and we can rest as long as we like before setting off again.

One can sometimes hear strange sounds when lying in one's sleeping bag on the sea ice. It sounds like the yawning howl one sometimes gets in the bowels of a ship. The endless fathoms of utterly unexplored sea that lie directly below gives one pause and doesn't bear thinking about. What strange and fearsome creatures live there, as yet unseen by man?

27 January, 1911

We started at 9:30 this morning, moving a load of fodder 3.75 miles south and then returning for lunch. Then me moved the camp and provisions. It's slow going and I am afraid the sea ice won't hold. I ventured out to Pram Point and found the ice dangerously thin off Cape Armitage.

The rest of the men went to the old Hut to see what they could do about digging it out - we saw cases of biscuit, butter and cocoa there, so will not be short if we have to camp here upon our return, but the snow is packed and solid and it will take a great deal of effort to clear.

The dogs are very tired tonight - 500lbs per sledge with 11 dogs is proving too much. They only get three-quarters of a pound of biscuit a day, which I think is too little. The ponies are good though, and Oates says his could have gone further than they did.

We men are all very tired too. I suppose we could have been in better shape with more sleep before this enormous task.

26 January, 1911

Aren't we a motley bunch?

After writing all my letters and completing arrangements for the ship, I bid the various parties and men a fond adieu. Pennell had brought the men aft so I could thank them for their splendid work. They have behaved like bricks and a finer lot of fellows never sailed in a ship. It was good to get their hearty send-off.

The Terra Nova carries two parties:

The Eastern Party under Campbell which shall explore King Edward VII Land. He has with him Priestly, Levick, Abbott, Browning, and Dickason.

The First Western Geological Party have sailed on to Butter Point, opposite Cape Evans on the mainland, and consists of Taylor, Debenham, Wright, and Edgar Evans.

A group has gone to Cape Royds on a ten-day photographic excursion, and includes Ponting, assisted by Nelson, Day and Lashly.

Our base at Cape Evans is being held by Simpson, Clissold, Hooper, and Anton.

Meanwhile, our Depot Party includes: Myself, Wilson, Teddy Evans, Bowers, Oates, Meares, Atkinson, Cherry-Garrard, Gran, Keohane, Crean, Forde, and Demitri.

So here we are with out loads. One wonders what the upshot will be. I do hope our 8 ponies come through, I have the utmost confidence in them. It should take us three days to get to complete safety before the sea ice we travel on breaks up.

Ponting got all of our photographs before we set off. I do hate posing for pictures.

Henry Bowers, my right-hand man. Cherry says he hasn't slept in 72 hours.

Captain Oates, reluctant to have his photograph taken as always.

25 January, 1911

AUTUMN PARTY

12 men, 8 ponies, 26 dogs

Animal food:

130 bales compressed fodder = 13,650 lbs

24 cases dog biscuit = 1400 lbs

10 sacks oats = 1600 lbs

TOTAL= 16,650 lbs

PONY SLEDGES

Between all the 8 sledges we carry:

Pony furniture

Driver's ski and sleeping bags

Cookers and primus instruments

Tanks of biscuit, sacks of oats

Tents and poles, alpine rope, bamboos and spare gear

Oil cans, spirit cans

Food bags, ready provision bags

Picks, shovels, Boxes of tools

Total weights per sledge, average: 570 lbs

DOGS

Sledge straps and tanks

Cookers and primus

Biscuit

Alpine Rope, lamps, candles

Provision bags

Sledge meter

Total average weights per sledges (2 sledges) = 488 lbs

SPARE GEAR PER MAN

2 pairs under socks

2 pairs outer socks

1 pair hair socks

1 pair night socks

1 pyjama jacket

1 pyjama trousers

1 woolen mitts

2 finnesko

Skein

Books, diaries, tobacco, etc.

Total weight: 12 lbs

DRESS

Vest and drawers

Woolen shirt

Jersey

Balaclava

Wind suit

Two pairs of socks

Ski boots