208 DEPOT JOURNEYS 



here. The distance from Framheim to this part of the 

 Barrier was about three miles. The ascent of the Barrier 

 was not difficult; with the exception of a few fissures it 

 was quite easy. It did not take long to get up, except 

 perhaps in the steepest part. The height was 60 feet. 

 It was quite exciting to go up; what should we see at 

 the top? We had never yet had a real uninterrupted 

 view over the Barrier to the south; this was the first 

 time. As it happened, we were not surprised at what 

 we saw when we got up an endless plain, that was lost 

 in the horizon on the extreme south. Our course, we 

 could see, would take us just along the side of the ridge 

 before mentioned a capital mark for later journeys. 

 The going was excellent; a thin layer of conveniently 

 loose snow was spread over a hard under-surface, and 

 made it very suitable for skiing. The lie of the ground 

 told us at once that we had the right pattern of ski 

 the kind for level ground, long and narrow. We had 

 found what we wanted an ascent for our southern 

 journeys and an open road. This spot was afterwards 

 marked with a flag, and went by the name of " the start- 

 ing-place." On the way back, as on the way out, we 

 passed large herds of seals, lying asleep. They did not 

 take the least notice of us. If we went up and woke 

 them, they just raised their heads a little, looked at us 

 for a moment, and then rolled over on the other side 

 and went to sleep again. It was very evident that 

 these animals here on the ice have no enemies. They 



