CHAPTER V. 



EQUIPMENT OF A SLEDGE EXPEDITION. 



Saving Weights Permanent Weights Sledges Means of crossing Water 

 The Sledge Dogs Their care and driving Tent Moisture in the 

 Sleeping Bag Means of preventing it Clothing Furs contra Wool 

 Food Comparison between the Food of different Explorers 

 Malted Milk compared to Pemmican Outfit taken on the Sledge 

 Expedition. 



THE success of a sledge expedition, the distance covered, and 

 the comfort and health of those employed in it are almost 

 entirely dependent upon its equipment. 



The preparations for a sledge trip, however, take more work' 

 and cost more thought than most non-explorers imagine. The 

 first object is to bring down the weight as much as possible, 

 without carrying retrenchment so far that the efficiency of the 

 outfit suffers, and the second and no less important object is to 

 pay the greatest possible heed to the comfort of the men on the 

 trail. 



The weights which it is particularly important to cut down 

 are the permanent weights, that is, sledges and kayaks, the 

 articles used for camping, such as tents and spare clothing, 

 sleeping gear, and cooking utensils, the instruments, arms and 

 ammunition, and the many odds and ends which have to be 

 taken along in fact, everything which cannot be eaten or 

 burned. 



When the sledge travelling of the fifties was revived by 

 Nansen's trip across the Polar pack, a new type of sledge as 

 well as a new mode of outfitting was introduced, and each 

 explorer after him has added some improvement to the Nansen 

 sledge or outfit. But each expedition has also cut down the 

 weight of the different articles, or left things behind which 

 some few years ago were deemed absolutely essential to the 

 safety and comfort of the party. 



Our impression, however, is that the saving has to some 



