ON THE HEIBERG GLACIER 157 



in shadow, partly gleaming in the sun — a marvellously 

 beautiful sight. And all was so still; one almost feared 

 to disturb the incomparable splendour of the scene. 



We now knew the ground well enough to be able to go 

 straight ahead without any detours. The huge avalanches 

 were more frequent than on the outward journey. One 

 mass of snow after another plunged down; Don Pedro 

 was getting rid of his winter coat. The going was 

 precisely the same — loose, fairly deep snow. We went 

 quite easily over it, however, and it was all downhill. 

 On the ridge where the descent to the glacier began 

 we halted to make our preparations. Brakes were put 

 under the sledges, and our two ski-sticks were fastened 

 together to make one strong one; we should have to 

 be able to stop instantly if surprised by a crevasse as we 

 were going. We ski-i*unners went in front. The going 

 was ideal here on the steep slope, just enough loose 

 snow to give one good steering on ski. We went 

 whizzing down, and it was not many minutes before we 

 were on the Heiberg Glacier. For the drivers it was 

 not quite such plain sailing: they followed our tracks, 

 but had to be extremely careful on the steep fall. 



We camped that evening on the selfsame spot where 

 we had had our tent on November 18, at about 3,100 feet 

 above the sea. From here one could see the course of 

 the Axel Heiberg Glacier right down to its junction 

 with the Barrier. It looked fine and even, and we 

 decided to follow it instead of climbing over the moun- 



