“February 5. 18.2 miles.  We had a difficult day, getting in amongst a frightful chaos of broad chasm-like crevasses.  We kept too far east and had to wind in and out amongst them and cross multitudes of bridges.  We then bore west a bit and got on better all the afternoon and got round a good deal of the upper disturbances of the falls here.”

[Scott wrote:  “We are camped in a very disturbed region, but the wind has fallen very light here, and our camp is comfortable for the first time for many weeks."[329]]

“February 6. 15 miles.  We again had a forenoon of trying to cut corners.  Got in amongst great chasms running E. and W. and had to come out again.  We then again kept west and downhill over tremendous sastrugi, with a slight breeze, very cold.  In afternoon continued bearing more and more towards Mount Darwin:  we got round one of the main lines of ice-fall and looked back up to it....  Very cold march:  many crevasses:  I walking by the sledge on foot found a good many:  the others all on ski.”

“February 7. 15.5 miles.  Clear day again and we made a tedious march in the forenoon along a flat or two, and down a long slope:  and then in the afternoon we had a very fresh breeze, and very fast run down long slopes covered with big sastrugi.  It was a strenuous job steering and checking behind by the sledge.  We reached the Upper Glacier Depot by 7.30 P.M. and found everything right."[330]

This was the end of the plateau:  the beginning of the glacier.  Their hard time should be over so far as the weather was concerned.  Wilson notes how fine the land looked as they approached it:  “The colour of the Dominion Range rock is in the main all brown madder or dark reddish chocolate, but there are numerous bands of yellow rock scattered amongst it.  I think it is composed of dolerite and sandstone as on the W. side."[331]

The condition of the party was of course giving anxiety:  how much it is impossible to say.  A good deal was to be hoped from the warm weather ahead.  Scott and Bowers were probably the fittest men.  Scott’s shoulder soon mended and “Bowers is splendid, full of energy and bustle all the time."[332] Wilson was feeling the cold more than either of them now.  His leg was not yet well enough to wear ski.  Oates had suffered from a cold foot for some time.  Evans, however, was the only man whom Scott seems to have been worried about.  “His cuts and wounds suppurate, his nose looks very bad, and altogether he shows considerable signs of being played out.” ...  “Well, we have come through our seven weeks’ ice-cap journey and most of us are fit, but I think another week might have had a very bad effect on P.O.  Evans, who is going steadily downhill."[333] They had all been having extra food which had helped them much, though they complained of hunger and want of sleep.  Directly they got into the warmer weather on the glacier their food satisfied them, “but we must march to keep on the full ration, and we want rest, yet we shall pull through all right, D.V.  We are by no means worn out."[334]