The first 100 miles had been through loose pack, but the greatest hindrances had been three moderate south-westerly gales, two lasting for three days each and one for four and a half days.

The last 250 miles had been through close pack alternating with fine long leads and stretches of open water.
During the weeks we spent manoeuvring to the south through the tortuous mazes of the pack it was necessary often to split floes by driving the ship against them.

This form of attack was effective against ice up to three feet in thickness, and the process is interesting enough to be worth describing briefly.

When the way was barred by a floe of moderate thickness we would drive the ship at half speed against it, stopping the engines just before the impact.

At the first blow the 'Endurance' would cut a V-shaped nick in the face of the floe, the slope of her cutwater often causing her bows to rise till nearly clear of the water, when she would slide backwards, rolling slightly.