NORTH POLE OF THE WINDS 



depot is reached. This nearest food supply is at 

 the dry camp between Taserssuak and the water- 

 fall. 



The next morning we set off under heavy 

 packs to go in over the ice-cap. Under Abraham's 

 guidance a place is found on the margin of the 

 Nordenskjold Glacier where by cutting steps with 

 our ice axes we are able to ascend onto the ice sur- 

 face, which is here very rough. Deep crevasses go 

 down into the blue depths of the ice and a system 

 of thaw-water channels averaging twenty-five feet 

 in depth completely cover the surface leaving only 

 sharpened ridges between. The wind is blowing 

 hard off the ice, and though we are protected when 

 in the trenches, our heads and especially our broad 

 packs are caught suddenly in a twenty-mile wind 

 so soon as they appear above the crest of the ice 

 ridges. Under these conditions it is especially dif- 

 ficult to keep one's balance even though we are 

 shod with crampons or climbing irons. On one oc- 

 casion Church and I lost balance at the same mo- 

 ment and with our heavy packs rolled together into 

 the wet bottom of the valley below. 



In spite of our best efforts we are able to make 

 but little advance over the ice, and finding no suit- 

 able place to camp, we decide to return to Camp 



82 



