The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-03-14

the 18th of November, at IS degrees,
we arrived at place where the land
and barrier were connected. This
was done without any great difficulty.
The barrier here rises in undulations
to about 300 feet Some few big Gre
vices indicated the limited boundary.
Here we made our head depot, taking
provisions for sixty days on sledges,
and leaving thirty days provisions on
the spot.
The land under which we lay and
which we now had to attack looked
quite imposing. The nearest submits
along the barrier had a height from
1000 to 10000 feet, but several others
further south were $4,000 feet or
more. The next day we began the
climbs. The first part Of 1t was an
easy task-daylight stops and well
filed mountain sides. 1t did not take
long, for our willing dogs worked
their way up. Further up we met
with some small but very steep gla-
ciers. Here we had to harness twen-
ty dogs to each sledge and take the
four sledges in two turns.
In some places it was SO steep that
it was difficult enough to use our
skis. Some big crevices forced US
from time to time to make detours.
The first day we climbed 1000 feet,
the next day mostly up some small
glaciers, camping at height Of 1880
feet. The third day we were obliged
to go down on mighty glacier,
"Axel Heibergs Glacier" which divid-
ed the coast mountains and the noun
tains further south. The next day
began the longest part of our climb.
Many detours had to be made in or
der to avoid broad cracks anu open
crevices. These were apparently
mostly filed up, as the glaciers in all
probability had long ago stopped NOV.
ing, but we had to be very careful,
never knowing for certain how thick
was the layer that covered them.
Picturesque Camp Site.
Our camp that night lay In very
picturesque surroundings at height
of 5000 feet. The glacier here was
narrowed in between the two $4,000
| feet high. mountains, the 'Fridtjoi
Nansen'' and the Don Pedro Chris
/ topherson." From the bottom OF the
| glacier rose mount "Ole Englstad," a
| big snow cone 1880 feet high.
The glacier was very much broken
in this comparatively narrow pass
The mighty crcvices seemed to stor
us from going further, but it was not
so serious as it appeared. Our dogs
which up to this time had covered 9
| distance of about 1000 kilometers-
! the last days was hard work-rar
! this day 35 kilometers, the ascent be
! ing 5000 feet, an almost increditablt
record.
It took US only four days from thu
| barrier to get up on the vast inlane
plateau.
We camped that night at heigh
of 10000 feet. Here we had to xii
twenty-four of our brave companions
and keep eighteen, six for each o
our three sledges.
| We stopped here four days on ac
count of bad weather. Tired Of thi
| we set out on the 18th of November
On the 26th, in furious blizzard ant
in dense snow drift, absolutel.
nothing was to be seen, but we fel
that, contrary to expectations, W
were going fast down hill. The hyI
someter gave US 5000 feet.
! The next day was similar. TIL
weather cleared little at Dime
time and exposed to our view
mighty mountain range to the east
and ret far off, only for moment
and then it disappeared in the dens
snow drift On the 18th it calme
down and the sun shonc, though
was rot the only pleasant surprise h
gave. In our course stretched bi
glacier running toward the south A
its eastern end was the mountai
range going in southeasterly dire'
ton OF the western part of it n
view was to be had, it being hidden |
the dense fog. At the foot of thi
glacier. the Devils Glacier" a depc
for SIX days was established, at S6.2
degrees south latitude The hyps,
meter indicated 5000 feet above Sc
level
Begin Climbing Glacier.
On November 30 we began to elm
the glacier. The lower part Of it wa
sery much broken and dangerou
Moreover. the SNOW pric4.es very o