The vehicle proved heavy and
cumbrous. We had to lift it empty over bare patches of rock along the
shore, and I realized that it would be too heavy for three men to
manage amid the snow-plains, glaciers, and peaks of the interior.
Worsley and Crean were coming with me, and after consultation we
decided to leave the sleeping-bags behind us and make the journey in
very light marching order. We would take three days' provisions for
each man in the form of sledging ration and biscuit. The food was to
be packed in three sacks, so that each member of the party could carry
his own supply. Then we were to take the Primus lamp filled with oil,
the small cooker, the carpenter's adze (for use as an ice-axe), and the
alpine rope, which made a total length of fifty feet when knotted. We
might have to lower ourselves down steep slopes or cross crevassed
glaciers. The filled lamp would provide six hot meals, which would
consist of sledging ration boiled up with biscuit. There were two boxes
of matches left, one full and the other partially used. We left the
full box with the men at the camp and took the second box, which
contained forty-eight matches. I was unfortunate as regarded footgear,
since I had given away my heavy Burberry boots on the floe, and had now
a comparatively light pair in poor condition.
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