I9II] SLEDGE ROUTINE 235 
examine the geology of the coast we were skirting. It 
was apparent also that as we proceeded northwards the 
glaciers had retreated less, and except on the capes no 
rock was exposed. From our low position we could only 
see the summits of the ' facetted ' walls marking the three 
great valley glaciers which opened into the Piedmont 
Glacier. Far away to the east, Erebus was throwing a 
huge steam banner to the south. Later in the evening, 
after some premonitory puffs, the banner shifted to the 
north. We now had an imposing view of the great black 
' fang ' of the old crater wall, and just behind this the 
lower dark dome of Terror contrasted strongly with its 
snow-covered rival Erebus. 
It was very warm in the tent (though the air 
temperature outside was only + 18°) and owing to the 
sun effect on the dark tent water lay in little pools on the 
cloth valance. Luckily this altered before we started, or 
the surface would have rivalled seccotine ! I finished my 
day's notes with the remark : ' I don't take very full 
geological notes for obvious reasons— we only see a piece of 
rock about every three days ! ' 
I will copy some notes I made on our sledge routine at 
this time. ' Our first movement, when we try to take 
1200 lbs. at one fell swoop, is to " break out " the sledges, 
so as to free the runners from ice. Then I give a Hipp ! 
cautioning Debenham not to strain hard, and the runners 
come away grudgingly and you feel as if they were pulling 
you asunder. Once under way they improve and we 
can do as much as three-quarters of a mile in an hour, 
w^hile the sweat rolls off us, groans rend the air, and Forde 
