The party spent the next day in their sleeping-bags, while a blizzard raged outside.  The weather was fine again on March 12, and they built a cairn for the depot.  The stores placed on this cairn comprised a six weeks’ supply of biscuit and three weeks’ full ration for three men, and three tins of oil.  Early in the afternoon the men resumed their march northwards and made three miles before camping.  “Our bags are getting into a bad state,” wrote Mackintosh, “as it is some time now since we have had an opportunity of drying them.  We use our bodies for drying socks and such-like clothing, which we place inside our jerseys and produce when required.  Wild carries a regular wardrobe in this position, and it is amusing to see him searching round the back of his clothes for a pair of socks.  Getting away in the mornings is our bitterest time.  The putting on of the finneskoe is a nightmare, for they are always frozen stiff, and we have a great struggle to force our feet into them.  The icy sennegrass round one’s fingers is another punishment that causes much pain.  We are miserable until we are actually on the move, then warmth returns with the work.  Our conversation now is principally conjecture as to what can have happened to the other parties.  We have various ideas.”

Saturday, March 13, was another day spent in the sleeping-bags.  A blizzard was raging and everything was obscured.  The men saved food by taking only one meal during the day, and they felt the effect of the short rations in lowered vitality.  Both Joyce and Wild had toes frost-bitten while in their bags and found difficulty in getting the circulation restored.  Wild suffered particularly in this way and his feet were very sore.  The weather cleared a little the next morning, but the drift began again before the party could break camp, and another day had to be spent in the frozen bags.

The march was resumed on March 15.  “About 11 p.m. last night the temperature commenced to get lower and the gale also diminished.  The lower temperature caused the bags, which were moist, to freeze hard.  We had no sleep and spent the night twisting and turning.  The morning brought sunshine and pleasure, for the hot hoosh warmed our bodies and gave a glow that was most comforting.  The sun was out, the weather fine and clear but cold.  At 8.30 a.m. we made a start.  We take a long time putting on our finneskoe, although we get up earlier to allow for this.  This morning we were over four hours’ getting away.  We had a fine surface this morning for marching, but we did not make much headway.  We did the usual four miles before lunch.  The temperature was -23° Fahr.  A mirage made the sastrugi appear to be dancing like some ice-goblins.  Joyce calls them ‘dancing jimmies.’  After lunch we travelled well, but the distance for the day was only 7 miles 400 yds.  We are blaming our sledge-meter for the slow rate of progress.  It is extraordinary that on the days when we consider we are making good speed we do no more than on days when we have a tussle.”