I902] WEIGHTS CARRIED BY SLEDGE PARTIES 331 



The incidental weights of a sledge party were numerous, 

 and depended greatly on the direction in which the party were 

 going and on the nature of their work. Those who journeyed 

 to the mountainous regions of the west were forced to go most 

 fully equipped in this respect, and in planning a sledge journey 

 in that direction it was especially maddening to see how the 

 weights of indispensable articles mounted up, and ever cut 

 away from the margin which remained for food. 



The weights of a party naturally divide themselves under 

 two headings : the permanent, which will not diminish through- 

 out the trip, and the consumable, including food, oil, &c. The 

 following is a list of permanent weights carried on my own 

 journey to the west ; it will give some idea of the variety of 

 articles which were taken exclusive of provisions ; the party 

 numbered six : — 



lbs. 

 2 Sledges with fittings complete 130 

 Trace ..... 5 

 2 Cookers, pannikins, & spoons 30 

 2 Primus lamps, filled . .10 

 2 Tents complete . . .60 

 2 Spades .... 9 



2 Sleeping-bags with night-gear 100 

 Sleeping-jackets, crampons, 



spare finneskoes . . 50 

 Medical bag ... 6 



3 Ice-axes .... 8 



Although our sledges weighed little over 40 lbs. each, by 

 the time they had been fitted with tanks for the provisions, 

 platforms for the oil, boxes for the instruments and for the 

 Primus lamps, and straps for other articles, it will be seen by 

 how much their weight had risen. 



Some of the other items may need a word or two of explana- 

 tion. The spades were of course needed for digging up the 

 snow to secure the tents. The night-gear consisted of warm 

 foot-wear for the night, and a small bag containing one or two 

 spare pairs of socks, a spare pair of mits, possibly a small 

 amount of tobacco, and some extra grass for filling fur boots. 



