THE FIFTH AND LONG BLIZZARD 
487 
open one is covered from head to foot. The temperature 
is high, so that what falls or drives against one sticks. 
The ponies — head, tails, legs, and all parts not protected 
by their rugs — are covered with ice ; the animals are 
standing deep in snow, the sledges are almost covered, and 
huge drifts above the tents. We have had breakfast, 
rebuilt the walls, and are now again in our bags. One 
cannot sec the next tent, let alone the land. What on 
earth docs such weather mean at this time of year ? It is 
more than our share of ill-fortune, I think, but the luck 
may turn yet. I doubt if any party could travel in such 
weather even with the wind, certainly no one could travel 
against it. 
Is there some widespread atmospheric disturbance 
which will be felt everywhere in this region as a bad season, 
or are we merely the victims of exceptional local conditions ? 
If the latter, there is food for thought in picturing our 
small party struggling against adversity in one place 
whilst others go smilingly forward in the sunshine. How 
great may be the clement of luck ! No foresight — no 
procedure — could have prepared us for this state of affairs. 
Had we been ten times as experienced or certain of our 
aim we should not have expected such rebuffs. 
1 1 p.m. — It has blown hard all day with quite the 
greatest snowfall I remember. The drifts about the tents 
are simply huge. The temperature was + 27 0 this forenoon, 
and rose to + 31 0 in the afternoon, at which time the snow 
melted as it fell on anything but the snow, and, as a con- 
sequence, there are pools of water on everything, the tents 
are wet through, also the wind clothes, night boots, &c. ; 
