i 9 o2] SPRING SLEDGING PLANS 375 



the sea-ice and turn slightly to the north to avoid the decayed 

 glacier tongue on which we had landed from the ship. At 

 the same time, with the sea-ice so constantly being broken 

 up by the heavy gales, the party would have to be extremely 

 cautious in their movements in order to avoid all risk of being 

 carried away on a broken floe. Yet as long as the sea-ice 

 held firm, it would afford a smooth and easy road, possibly 

 the only one on which the obstacles would not prove in- 

 superable. 



Royds, with another light travelling party, was to journey 

 to the south-west. Here our lofty mountain range again fell, 

 and though snow-covered peaks could be seen in the far 

 distance, there appeared to be a glacier of great volume 

 descending into the strait. Here, then, was another possibility 

 of finding a road to the inland. All depended on what lay 

 between, and whilst the prospect was not hopeful, it was 

 quite possible that by turning and twisting amongst the 

 various obstructions a clear road could be found. 



To have laden either of these parties with sufficient food 

 to make a depot for future journeys would have been to limit 

 their ability for exploration ; obviously the first step was to 

 find the road. I had entrusted the western exploration to 

 Armitage, and it would be for him, after the return of these 

 parties, to decide on the best route to be taken. 



I had decided in the very early winter months to under- 

 take the southern work myself, and as every consideration 

 seemed to point to this being the best route for the dogs, 

 I had determined that all these animals should be com- 

 mandeered for it, making the journey essentially a dog- sledging 

 trip. For a long time I contemplated taking only one 

 companion, thinking that two persons would be sufficient to 

 manage the animals, while the saving of weight would com- 

 pensate for the extra trouble ; but in considering the difficulties 

 which might arise from the unknown nature of the route and 

 the risk of sickness, I finally decided on increasing the number 

 to three. Long before this my two chosen companions, Barne 

 and Shackleton, had been training themselves for the work. 



