I9I2] MOUNT EREBUS IN SIGHT 163 
October 10. — Turned out at ^ a.m. to find a lovely 
day with bright sun but a cold wind. At 7.30 just after 
starting a low drift got up and the wind was freshening but 
bitterly cold — so cold in fact that at lunch-time we only 
stopped long enough to eat some frozen meat and blubber, 
and then were olf again over these endless undulations that 
give one the impression of always going up hill. At last 
on one of the undulations we saw sea ice to the southward, 
and a few minutes afterwards Dickason pointed to a white 
mass, looking like a cloud, which I made out to be Mount 
Erebus. While crossing another long undulation about 
three-quarters of a mile across, we came to a cliff barring 
our passage, but by bearing to the east, we found a place 
where we could cross the big crevasse that lay in front 
of it by a snow drift. The crevasse was about 10 yards 
wide, but well bridged. Once on top we saw the sea ice 
below us and about a mile and a half ahead. The drift, 
which had been blinding in the squalls, now cleared and 
we had a good view. 
The sea ice seemed fast as far as we could see in all 
directions, and this was a great relief to us. The Drygalski 
had not been so formidable as I expected, in spite of the 
broken ice ; we only broke through into a few crevasses, 
although I have no doubt there are plenty there. 
They are well bridged after the winter. We had no 
trouble in getting down to the sea ice, as hard snow drifts 
completely hid the south cliff. At 6 p.m. we camped, all 
tired but very pleased at having the Drygalski behind us 
and good sea ice in front. We had an extra biscuit and a 
stick of cliocolate to celebrate the occasion. The night 
M 2 
