In view of the possibility of wintering the ship in the ice, we took extra clothing from the stores at the various stations in South Georgia.
The other question that was giving me anxious thought was the size of the shore party.

If the ship had to go out during the winter, or if she broke away from winter quarters, it would be preferable to have only a small, carefully selected party of men ashore after the hut had been built and the stores landed.

These men could proceed to lay out depots by man-haulage and make short journeys with the dogs, training them for the long early march in the following spring.

The majority of the scientific men would live aboard the ship, where they could do their work under good conditions.

They would be able to make short journeys if required, using the 'Endurance' as a base.