FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122  
123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   >>   >|  
, the two motors dragging fuel and forage. _The Pony Party,_ consisting of Scott, Wilson, Oates, Bowers, Cherry-Garrard, Atkinson, Wright, Petty Officer Evans, Crean, and Keohane, to be independent of the success of the motors, to work light loads and easy distances out to Corner Camp, full loads and easy distances to One Ton Camp, and full distances beyond this point. _The Dog Teams,_ starting later, to rejoin Scott at One Ton Camp. The first object was to get twelve men with 43 weekly food units provision (four men per weekly unit) to the foot of Beardmore Glacier. Thence, with 3 units of four men and 21 units of provision, it was hoped to extend the advance unit (Polar party of four men) the required distance. The route intended was the actual one taken, as shown on the accompanying map. All our instructions were clear, and we knew what was expected of us long before the start for the Southern journey was made. The plans and instructions complete, we had a full month for our own individual work. I had plenty to do in conjunction largely with Debenham, and accordingly he, I, and Gran set out on September 23 with sledge, tent, and a week's food supply to complete and extend our surveys, and in Debenham's case to "geologise." We had an interesting but somewhat chilly time. Theodolite and plane table work are not suited to very cold climates. We all three worked long hours, usually turning out between 5 and 6 a.m. and not wasting time over meals. Whilst away surveying we mostly worked on the sea ice, and pitched our tent there. On October 2 at, midnight a terrific squall struck our tent. We knew what Wilson's experience had been and consequently we were out of our bags in a moment. Being close to land we got Gran to collect rocks on the valance, while Debenham and I held on for our lives to it, otherwise the tent would have blown away via McMurdo Sound into the Ross Sea. Eventually all was serene, the tent securely anchored by rocks piled close around, and we three were snoring in our bags. We lay still until the following afternoon, by which time the blizzard had abated, and one could see a mile or two; accordingly we were up and about, so that when the visibility suited, Debenham and I were once more at work and Gran was away to Cape Evans for the purpose of replenishing our food bag. It is worthy of mention that Gran could easily carry sixty pounds weight in a "rygsaek," (Norwegian knapsack for
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122  
123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Debenham

 

distances

 

Wilson

 

provision

 

extend

 

instructions

 

worked

 

motors

 

suited

 

complete


weekly

 

independent

 

moment

 

collect

 

success

 

McMurdo

 

valance

 

experience

 
midnight
 

Whilst


surveying

 
wasting
 

terrific

 

squall

 

October

 

pitched

 

struck

 

purpose

 

replenishing

 
visibility

weight
 

rygsaek

 

Norwegian

 

knapsack

 
pounds
 
worthy
 
mention
 

easily

 
Officer
 

snoring


anchored

 

securely

 

Eventually

 

serene

 

Keohane

 

abated

 

blizzard

 

afternoon

 

object

 

Bowers