The route, however, lay over very hummocky floes, and required much work with pick and shovel to make it passable for the boat-sledges.

These are handled in relays by eighteen men under Worsley.

It is killing work on soft surfaces." At 5 a.m.we were brought up by a wide open lead after an unsatisfactorily short march.

While we waited, a meal of tea and two small bannocks was served, but as 10 a.m.came and there were no signs of the lead closing we all turned in.
It snowed a little during the day and those who were sleeping outside got their sleeping-bags pretty wet.
At 9.30 p.m.that night we were off again.

I was, as usual, pioneering in front, followed by the cook and his mate pulling a small sledge with the stove and all the cooking gear on.