As a matter of fact, we did not fall much short of accomplishing this program.

To be accurate, day in and day out we covered five northward marches in three return marches.

Every day we gained on the return lessened the chances of the trail being destroyed by high winds shifting the ice.

There was one region just above the 87th parallel, a region about fifty-seven miles wide, which gave me a great deal of concern until we had passed it.

Twelve hours of strong wind blowing from any quarter excepting the north would have turned that region into an open sea.