84 PLAN AND PREPARATIONS 



know anything that tires me more than a bad fastening 

 that is, one that allows the foot to shift in the bind- 

 ing. I want the ski to be a part of oneself, so that 

 one always has full command of them. I have tried 

 many patents, for I have always been afraid of a stiff 

 fastening in cold temperatures; but all these patents, 

 without exception, are worthless in the long-run. I 

 decided this time to try a combination of stiff and soft 

 foot-gear, so that we could use the splendid Huitfeldt- 

 Hoyer E lief sen bindings; but this was no easy matter. 

 Of our whole outfit nothing caused me more worry or 

 gave us all more work in the course of the expedition 

 than the stiff outer covering which we had to have; but 

 we solved the problem at last. I applied to one of 

 the leading makers of ski-boots in Christiania, and ex- 

 plained the difficulty to him ; fortunately I had found a 

 man who was evidently interested in the question. We 

 agreed that he should make a sample pair after the 

 pattern of ski-boots. The sole was to be thick and 

 stiff for we had to be prepared to use crampons but 

 the uppers as soft as possible. In order to avoid leather, 

 which usually becomes stiff and easily cracked in the 

 cold, he was to use a combination of leather and thin 

 canvas for the uppers leather nearest the sole, and 

 canvas above it. 



The measurements were taken from my foot, which 

 is not exactly a child's foot, with two pairs of reindeer- 

 skin stockings on, and ten pairs were made. I well 



