The part of the Barrier over which we had gone heretofore has an average height of 165 feet and looked like a flat plain which continued with slight undulations without any marked features that could have served for orientation.  It has heretofore been the opinion that on such an endless plain no provisions can be cached without risking their loss.  If we were, however, to have the slightest chance of reaching our goal we had to establish depots, and that to as great an extent as possible.  This question was discussed among us, and we decided to establish signs across our route, and not along it, as has been generally done heretofore.  We therefore set up a row of signs at right angles to our route, that is, in an east-west direction from our depots.  Two of these signs were placed on opposite sides of each of the three depots, at a distance of 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) from them; and between the signs and the depot two flags were erected for every kilometer.  In addition, all flags were marked so that we might know the direction and distance of the depot to which it referred.  This provision proved entirely trustworthy; we were able to find our depots even in dense fog.  Our compasses and pedometers were tested at the station; we knew that we could rely upon them.

By our excursions to the depots we had gained a great deal.  We had not only carried a large amount of provisions toward the south, but we had also gained valuable experience.  That was worth more and was to be of value to us on our final advance to the Pole.

The lowest temperature we had observed on these depot excursions was -50 deg.  Centigrade.  The fact that it was still summer when we recorded this temperature warned us to see that our equipment was in good condition.  We also realized that our heavy sleds were too unwieldy and that they could easily be made much lighter.  This criticism was equally applicable to the greater part of our equipment.

Several days before the disappearance of the sun were devoted to hunting seal.  The total weight of the seals killed amounted to 132,000 pounds.  We therefore had ample provisions for ourselves as well as for our 115 dogs.

Our next problem was to supply a protective roof for our dogs.  We had brought with us ten large tents in which sixteen men could easily find room.  They were set up on the Ice Barrier; the snow was then dug out to a depth of six and a half feet inside the tents, so that each dog hut was nearly twenty feet high.  The diameter of a dog hut on the ground was sixteen feet.  We made these huts spacious so that they might be as airy as possible, and thus avert the frost which is so injurious to dogs.  Our purpose was entirely attained, for even in the severest weather no dogs were frozen.  The tents were always warm and comfortable.  Twelve dogs were housed in each, and every man had to take care of his own pack.