“10th November 1911.

“Again we started off with plenty of vim, but it was jolly tough work, and it begins to tell on all of us; the surface to-day is covered with soft crystals which don’t improve things.  To-night Hooper is pretty well done up, but he have stuck it well and I hope he will, although he could not tackle the food in the best of spirits, we know he wanted it.  Mr. Evans, Mr. Day and myself could eat more, as we are just beginning to feel the tightening of the belt.  Made good 111/4 miles and we are now building cairns all the way, one about three miles:  then again at lunch and one in the afternoon and one at night.  This will keep us employed.

    “11th November 1911.

“To-day it has been very heavy work.  The surface is very bad and we are pretty well full up, but not with food; man-hauling is no doubt the hardest work one can do, no wonder the motor sledges could not stand it.  I have been thinking of the trials I witnessed of the motor engines in Wolseley’s works in Birmingham, they were pretty stiff but nothing compared to the drag of a heavy load on the Barrier surface.

    “12th November 1911.

“To-day have been similar to the two previous days, but the light have been bad and snow have been falling which do not improve the surface; we have been doing 10 miles a day Geographical and quite enough too as we have all had enough by time it goes Camp.

    “13th November 1911.

“The weather seems to be on the change.  Should not be surprised if we don’t get a blizzard before long, but of course we don’t want that.  Hooper seems a bit fagged but he sticks it pretty well.  Mr. Day keeps on plodding, his only complaint is should like a little more to eat.

    “14th November 1911.

“When we started this morning Mr. Evans said we had about 15 miles to go to reach the required distance.  The hauling have been about the same, but the weather is somewhat finer and the blizzard gone off.  We did 10 miles and camped; have not seen anything of the main party yet but shall not be surprised to see them at any time.

    “15th November 1911.

“We are camped after doing five miles where we are supposed to be [lat. 80 deg. 32’]; now we have to wait the others coming up.  Mr. Evans is quite proud to think we have arrived before the others caught us, but we don’t expect they will be long although we have nothing to be ashamed of as our daily distance have been good.  We have built a large cairn this afternoon before turning in.  The weather is cold but excellent.”

* * * * *

They waited there six days before the pony party arrived, when the Upper Barrier Depot (Mount Hooper) was left in the cairn.

FOOTNOTES: 

   [168] My own diary.

   [169] Ibid.