Joyce also had been compelled to relay his load, and all hands laboured strenuously and advanced slowly.
They reached the edge of the Barrier on the night of January 30 and climbed an easy slope to the Barrier surface, about thirty feet above the sea-ice.

The dogs were showing signs of fatigue, and when Mackintosh camped at 6.30 a.m.on January 31, he reckoned that the distance covered in twelve and a half hours had been about two and a half miles.

The men had killed a seal at the edge of the sea-ice and placed the meat on a cairn for future use.

One dog, having refused to pull, had been left behind with a good feed of meat, and Mackintosh hoped the animal would follow.

The experiences of the party during the days that followed can be indicated by some extracts from Mackintosh's diary.
"Sunday, January 31 .-- Started off this afternoon at 3 p.m.