We treated newly formed ice with far too little respect.  It was on April 7 that Scott asked whether any of us would like to walk northwards over the newly formed ice towards Castle Rock.  We had walked about two miles, the ice heaving up and down as we went, dodging the open pools and leads to the best of our ability, when Taylor went right in.  Luckily he could lever himself out without help, and returned to the hut with all speed.  We prepared to cross this ice to Cape Evans the next day, but the whole of it went out in the night.  On another occasion we were prepared to set out the following morning, but the ice on which we were to cross went out on the turn of the tide some five hours before we timed ourselves to start.

Scott was of opinion that the ice in the two Bays under Erebus was firm, and prepared to essay this route.  The first of these bays is formed by the junction of the Hut Point Peninsula with Erebus to the south, and by Glacier Tongue to the north.  Crossing Glacier Tongue a party can descend on to the second bay beyond, the northern boundary of which is Cape Evans.  The Dellbridge Islands, of which Great Razorback is in direct line between Glacier Tongue and Cape Evans, help to hold in any ice which forms here.  The route had never been attempted before, but it was hoped that a way down from the Peninsula on to the frozen sea might be found at the Hutton Cliffs, an outcrop of lava rock in the irregular ice face.

“A party consisting of Scott, Bowers, Taylor, and Seaman Evans with one tent, and Lieutenant Evans, Wright, Debenham, Gran and Crean with another, started for Hut Point.  It was dark to the south and snowing by the time they reached the top of Ski Slope.  We helped them past Third Crater.  The ice from Hut Point to Glacier Tongue was impossible, and so they went on past Castle Rock and were to try and get down somewhere by the Hutton Cliffs on to some fast sea-ice which seemed to have held there some time, and so across Glacier Tongue on to sea-ice which also seemed to be fast as far as Cape Evans.

“After lunch Wilson and I started about 4 P.M. in half a blizzard.  It was much better on the Heights and fairly clear towards Erebus, but we could not see any traces of the party on the ice.

“April 12.  This morning as it was beginning to get light a blizzard started, and it is blowing very hard now.  The large amount of snow which has fallen will make it very thick.  We are all anxious about the returning party, for Scott talked of camping on the sea-ice.  The ice in Arrival Bay (just north of Hut Point) has gone out.  They have sleeping-bags, food for two meals, and a full primus for each tent.

“April 13.  We were very anxious about the returning party, especially when all the ice north of Hut Point went out.  The blizzard blew itself out this morning, and it was a great change to see White Island and The Bluff once more.  Atkinson came in before lunch and told me that, looking from the Heights, the ice from Glacier Tongue to Cape Evans appeared to have gone out.  This sobered our lunch.  We all made our way to Second Crater afterwards, and found the ice from the Hutton Cliffs to Glacier Tongue and thence to Cape Evans was still in.