EXPEDITIOISr TO SOUTH POLE AMUNDSEN. 709 



On November 5 wo reached the depot at the eighty-second paraUcl 

 and found everything in order. For the last time our dogs were able 

 to have a good rest and eat tlieir fill; and they did so thoroughly 

 during their two days' rest. 



Beginning at the eightieth parallel we constructed snow cairns 

 which should serve as signposts on our return. In all we erected 

 150 such signposts, each of which required 60 snow blocks. About 

 9,000 snow blocks had therefore to be cut out f(^r this jiurpose. These 

 cairns did not disappoint us, for they enabled us to return by exactly 

 the same route we liad previously followed. 



, South of the eighty-second parallel the Barrier was, if possible, 

 still more even than farther north; we therefore advanced quite 

 rapidly. At every unit parallel which we crossed on our advance 

 toward the south we established a depot. We thereby doubtlessly 

 exposed ourselves to a certain risk, for there was no time to set up 

 sign posts around the depots. We therefore had to rely on snow 

 cairns. On the other hand, our sleds became lighter, so that it was 

 never hard for the dogs to pull them. 



When we reached the eighty-third parallel we saw land in a 

 southwesterly direction. This could only be South Victoria Land, 

 probably a continuation of the mountain range which runs in a 

 southeasterl}^ direction and which is shown on Shackelton's map. 

 From now on the landscape changed more and more from day to 

 day; one mountain after another loomed up, one always higher than 

 the other. Their average elevation was 10,000 to 16,000 feet. Their 

 crest line was always sharp; the peaks were like needles. I have 

 never seen a more beautiful, wild, and imposing landscape. Here a 

 peak would appear ^\^Lth somber and cold outlines, its head buried in 

 the clouds; there one could see snow fields and glaciers thrown 

 together in hopeless confusion. On November 11 we saw land to the 

 south and could soon determine that a mountain range, whose position 

 is about 86° S. and 163° W., crosses South Victoria Land in an east- 

 erly and northeasterly direction. This mountain range is materially 

 lower than the mighty mountains of the rest of South Victoria Land. 

 Peaks of an elevation of 1,800 to 4,000 feet were the highest. We 

 could see this mountain chain as far as the eighty-fourth parallel, 

 where it disappeared below the horizon. 



On November 17 we reached tho place where the Ice Barrier ends 

 and the land begins. We had proceeded directly south from our 

 winter quarters to this point. We were now in 85° 7' S. and 165° W. 

 The place where we left the Barrier for the land oft'ered no special 

 difficulties. A few extended undulating reaches of ice had to be 

 crossed which were interrupted by crevasses here and there. Noth- 

 ing could impede our advance. It was our plan to go due south from 

 85360°— SM 1912 46 



