Camp 22. Lunch camp.
Marched here fairly easily. We now keep a steady pace of 2 miles an hour, very good going. The sky was slightly overcast at start and between two and three it grew very misty. Before we camped we lost sight of the manhaulers, only 300 yards ahead. The sun is piercing the mist. Here at Latitude 81 degrees 35 minutes we are leaving our Middle Barrier Depot, one week for each returning unit.
Looks like more snow. Damn.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
25 November, 1911
Camp 21
Now that it is pretty warm at night it is obviously desirable to work towards day marching. We shall start 2 hours later tonight and again tomorrow night.
Last night we bade farewell to Day and Hooper and set out with the new organization. All started together, the manhaulers Evans, Lashly and Atkinson, going ahead with their gear on the 10 foot sledge. Chinaman and James Pigg next, and the rest some minutes behind.
The sun has been shining all night, but towards midnight light mist clouds arose, half obscuring the leading parties. Land can be dimly discerned nearly ahead. The ponies are slowly tiring but we lighten loads again tomorrow by making another depot.
Meares has just come up to report that Jehu made four feeds for the dogs. He cut up very well and had quite a lot of fat on him. Meares says another pony will carry him to the Glacier. This is very good hearing.
The men are pulling with ski sticks and say they are a great assistance. I think of taking them up the Glacier.
Jehu has certainly come up trumps after all, and Chinaman bids fair to be even more valuable. Only a few more marches to feel safe in getting to our first goal.
Now that it is pretty warm at night it is obviously desirable to work towards day marching. We shall start 2 hours later tonight and again tomorrow night.
Last night we bade farewell to Day and Hooper and set out with the new organization. All started together, the manhaulers Evans, Lashly and Atkinson, going ahead with their gear on the 10 foot sledge. Chinaman and James Pigg next, and the rest some minutes behind.
The sun has been shining all night, but towards midnight light mist clouds arose, half obscuring the leading parties. Land can be dimly discerned nearly ahead. The ponies are slowly tiring but we lighten loads again tomorrow by making another depot.
Meares has just come up to report that Jehu made four feeds for the dogs. He cut up very well and had quite a lot of fat on him. Meares says another pony will carry him to the Glacier. This is very good hearing.
The men are pulling with ski sticks and say they are a great assistance. I think of taking them up the Glacier.
Jehu has certainly come up trumps after all, and Chinaman bids fair to be even more valuable. Only a few more marches to feel safe in getting to our first goal.
24 November, 1911
Camp 20
A gloomy start to our march. The weather's clearing now.
Since our junction with the Motor Party the procedure has been for the manhauling people to go forward just ahead of the crocks, the other party following 2 or 3 hours later. Today we closed less than usual, so that the crocks must have been going very well. However the fiat has already gone forth, and this morning after the march poor old Jehu was led back on the track and shot. Towards the end he was pulling very little and on the whole it is merciful to have ended his life. Chinaman seems to improve and will certainly last a good many days yet. The rest show no signs of flagging and are only moderately hungry. The surface is tiring for walking, as one sinks two or three inches nearly all the time. I feel we ought to get through now.
Day and Hooper leave us tonight.
A gloomy start to our march. The weather's clearing now.
Since our junction with the Motor Party the procedure has been for the manhauling people to go forward just ahead of the crocks, the other party following 2 or 3 hours later. Today we closed less than usual, so that the crocks must have been going very well. However the fiat has already gone forth, and this morning after the march poor old Jehu was led back on the track and shot. Towards the end he was pulling very little and on the whole it is merciful to have ended his life. Chinaman seems to improve and will certainly last a good many days yet. The rest show no signs of flagging and are only moderately hungry. The surface is tiring for walking, as one sinks two or three inches nearly all the time. I feel we ought to get through now.
Day and Hooper leave us tonight.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
23 November, 1911
Camp 19
Getting along. I think the ponies will get through; we are now 150 geographical miles from the Glacier. But it is still rather touch and go. If one or more of the ponies were to go rapidly downhill we might be in queer street. I'm afraid we might get a blizzard. I hope to goodness it is not going to stop one marching; forage won't allow that.
Getting along. I think the ponies will get through; we are now 150 geographical miles from the Glacier. But it is still rather touch and go. If one or more of the ponies were to go rapidly downhill we might be in queer street. I'm afraid we might get a blizzard. I hope to goodness it is not going to stop one marching; forage won't allow that.
22 November, 1911
Camp 18
Everything much the same.
The ponies thinner but not much weaker. The crocs still going along. Jehu is now called "The Barrier Wonder" and Chinaman "The Thunderbolt." Two days more and they will be well past the spot at which Shackleton killed his first animal.
I wonder what nickname I will earn out of all this?
The weather is glorious and the ponies can make the most of their rest during the warmest hours, but they certainly lose in one way by marching at night. The surface is much easier for the sledges when the sun is warm, and for about three hours before and after midnight the friction noticeably increases.
We break through the crust in places. If the hot sun continues this should improve. One cannot see any reason why the crust should change in the next 100 miles.
It's all pretty much the same every day out here.
Everything much the same.
The ponies thinner but not much weaker. The crocs still going along. Jehu is now called "The Barrier Wonder" and Chinaman "The Thunderbolt." Two days more and they will be well past the spot at which Shackleton killed his first animal.
I wonder what nickname I will earn out of all this?
The weather is glorious and the ponies can make the most of their rest during the warmest hours, but they certainly lose in one way by marching at night. The surface is much easier for the sledges when the sun is warm, and for about three hours before and after midnight the friction noticeably increases.
We break through the crust in places. If the hot sun continues this should improve. One cannot see any reason why the crust should change in the next 100 miles.
It's all pretty much the same every day out here.
21 November, 1911
Camp 17. Lat 80 degrees 35 minutes south.
The surface is decidedly better, and the ponies very steady on the march. None seem overtired, and now it is impossible not to take a hopeful view of the prospect of pulling through. The only circumstance to be feared is a reversion to bad surfaces, and that ought not to happen on this course. We marched to the usual lunch camp and saw a large cairn ahead. Two miles beyond we came on the Motor Party in lat. 80, 32'. We learned that they had been waiting for six days. They all look very fit, but declare themselves to be very hungry. This is interesting as showing conclusively that a ration amply sufficient for the needs of men leading ponies is quite insufficient for men doing hard pulling work; it therefore fully justifies the provision we have made for the Summit work. Even on that I have little doubt we shall soon get hungry. Day looks thin, almost gaunt, but fit. The weather is beautiful—long may it so continue!
We will take the Motor Party on for three days, then Day and Hooper will return. We hope Jehu will last three days; he will then be finished in any case and fed to the dogs. It is amusing to see Meares looking eagerly for the chance of a feed for his animals; he has been expecting it daily. On the other hand, Atkinson and Oates are eager to get the poor animal beyond the point at which Shackleton killed his first beast. Reports on Chinaman are very favorable, and it really looks as though the ponies are going to do what is expected of them.
The surface is decidedly better, and the ponies very steady on the march. None seem overtired, and now it is impossible not to take a hopeful view of the prospect of pulling through. The only circumstance to be feared is a reversion to bad surfaces, and that ought not to happen on this course. We marched to the usual lunch camp and saw a large cairn ahead. Two miles beyond we came on the Motor Party in lat. 80, 32'. We learned that they had been waiting for six days. They all look very fit, but declare themselves to be very hungry. This is interesting as showing conclusively that a ration amply sufficient for the needs of men leading ponies is quite insufficient for men doing hard pulling work; it therefore fully justifies the provision we have made for the Summit work. Even on that I have little doubt we shall soon get hungry. Day looks thin, almost gaunt, but fit. The weather is beautiful—long may it so continue!
We will take the Motor Party on for three days, then Day and Hooper will return. We hope Jehu will last three days; he will then be finished in any case and fed to the dogs. It is amusing to see Meares looking eagerly for the chance of a feed for his animals; he has been expecting it daily. On the other hand, Atkinson and Oates are eager to get the poor animal beyond the point at which Shackleton killed his first beast. Reports on Chinaman are very favorable, and it really looks as though the ponies are going to do what is expected of them.
20 November, 1911
Camp 16
The crocks still go. Jehu seems a little better than yesterday, and will certainly go another march. Chinaman reported bad the first half march, but bucked up the second. The dogs found the surface heavy. Tomorrow I propose to relieve them of a forage bag. Victor is getting to look very gaunt. Nobby seems fitter and stronger than when he started; he alone is ready to go all his feed at any time and as much as he can get. The rest feed fairly well, but they are getting a very big strong ration. I am beginning to feel more hopeful about them. Christopher kicked the bow of his sledge in towards the end of the march. He much have a lot left in him though.
Temperature at night -14, now it is +4. A very slight southerly breeze, from which the walls protect the animals well. I feel sure that a long day's rest in the sun is very good for all of them.
I wonder what the men in the other tent talk about.
The crocks still go. Jehu seems a little better than yesterday, and will certainly go another march. Chinaman reported bad the first half march, but bucked up the second. The dogs found the surface heavy. Tomorrow I propose to relieve them of a forage bag. Victor is getting to look very gaunt. Nobby seems fitter and stronger than when he started; he alone is ready to go all his feed at any time and as much as he can get. The rest feed fairly well, but they are getting a very big strong ration. I am beginning to feel more hopeful about them. Christopher kicked the bow of his sledge in towards the end of the march. He much have a lot left in him though.
Temperature at night -14, now it is +4. A very slight southerly breeze, from which the walls protect the animals well. I feel sure that a long day's rest in the sun is very good for all of them.
I wonder what the men in the other tent talk about.
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