Evening star., 1926-05-02
the sledge up the steep ascent on the

the sledge up the steep ascent on the
ice cap.
We imagined that the dogs would
be unable to draw our heavily-laden
sledge uphill, but nothing would hold
them back. With a hubbub of bark
/ ing, fighting. and yelpinfi. they bolted
sledge and all. Hansen was running
| in front to encourage them to pull.
| He did it to such effect that they
overlook him and bowled him over, so
that, metaphorically, he bit the dust,
though in fact it was something
rather harder. After that we hung on
to the sledge; even so, the dogs had
complete mastery Of 1t until the stiff
incline of the slope brought them to
treason.
Our first march was a good one. as
there was practically no snow on the
surface. But soon the dogs feet show
ed signs of being cut by particles Of
ice, and imprints of blood marked our
track. We were gradually ascending
toward the ice plateau. After three
hours we found ourselves in a basin
which received the drainage of the
whole of this portion Of the ice cap.
From hard ice we came to soft
snow, and from soft snow to a com
promise between snow and water.
There were many streams to be
snow and lakes to be skirted. 1t was
impossible to keep on a westerly
course The mist was on US and we
plunged into many impossible places
which we could have avoided on a
clear day.
Eventually an ice river Is feet wide
barred our path. Following its bank
we came upon a large crevtce into
which the river disappeared. There
we made our first camp. as the dogs
could pull no further and we had
this formidable barrier confronting
us. Colquohon was our cook, and I
had the enviable task of looking after
the stove-enviable. as 1t warmed the
hands. We had a good dinner and
slept soundly.
Our general plan was to march at
night, when there was more chance
of good frost than in the daytime.
We had two meals a day-breakfast
of pemmican, tea. and biscuits be-
tween 8 pm. and midnight, and din
ner. consisting of pOrridge, tea, bis
cults and chocolate, after our march
between am. and midday. In the
early stages Of our journey the
abundance Of water saved us from
having to melt down snow or ice for
cooking purposes.
We estimated that we had not made
more than six miles westing on this
first march. AS we struck camp and
set forth again brilliant sunshine en-
abled US to steer clear Of the worst
patches Of snow. though at the same
time it accentuated the thaw. Time
and again the sledge wallowed deep
into the morasS and had to be dug
out. Three times on this march 1t
had to be unlashed and relay jour.
neyS made.
THE dogs grew apathetic, and moth.
ing would induce them to pull,
once the sledge had settled down. In
many places ones skis sank through
the surface. Making camp again. it
looked as If we had traversed the
worst area of slush. but at best we
had made only four miles westward,
though in our tortuous course we must
have covered at least 10 miles,
We had not yet reached the main
ice plateau. 1t was slow. uphill work.
Each ridge we thought must be the
last; with unvarying monotony 1t was
succeeded by another. Does the road
wind uphill all the way?" we Won
dered. and ridge after ridge Knocked
us. "YeS-to the very end"
We woke up at 10 pm. to find our
selves in thiclS mist, and decided to
wait until midnight in hope of the
weather improving. We started at
midnight. still in thick fog. No sooner
had we set out than wan sun shone
the heavens, and the fog
slowly rolled away.
August was our first red-letter
day. The going was better, as there
had been a slight frost. 1t was still
uphill, but we had only one bad patch
of water to negotiate. At long last
we made the plateau. cleaning fierce
white in the sun, and we had to don
our snow-goggles. We could see for
many miles to the west without a
break on the horizon. On we plodded.