They were having trouble with the dogs, which did not pull cheerfully, and the total distance covered in the day was under four miles.

The weather was warm and the snow consequently was soft.

Mackintosh had decided that it would be best to travel at night.
A fall of snow held up the party throughout the following day, and they did not get away from their camp until shortly before midnight.

"The surface was abominably soft," wrote Mackintosh.

"We harnessed ourselves on to the sledge and with the dogs made a start, but we had a struggle to get off.