CHAPTER XV 



THE AUTUMN WORK 



P I 'HE main purpose of the autumn sledge parties 

 was the transportation to Cape Columbia 

 A of supplies for the spring sledge journey 

 toward the Pole. Cape Columbia, ninety miles north- 

 west from the ship, had been chosen because it was 

 the most northerly point of Grant Land, and because 

 it was far enough west to be out of the ice current 

 setting down Robeson Channel. From there we 

 could strike straight north over the ice of the Polar 

 Sea. 



The moving of thousands of pounds of supplies 

 for men and dogs for a distance of ninety miles, under 

 the rigorous conditions of the Arctic, presented prob- 

 lems for calculation. The plan was to establish 

 stations along the route, instead of sending each party 

 through to Cape Columbia and back. The first party 

 was to go to Cape Belknap, about twelve miles from 

 the ship, deposit their supplies, and return the same 

 day. The second party was to go to Cape Richard- 

 son, about twenty miles away, deposit their supplies, 

 return part way and pick up the supplies at Cape 

 Belknap, taking them forward to Cape Richardson. 

 The next station was at Porter Bay, the next at Sail 

 Harbor, the next at Cape Colan, and the final station 

 at Cape Columbia itself. Parties would thus be going 



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