ion] AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE GREAT STORM 499 
in a thin film with some hard knots of ice on the runners. 
Evans' team had been sent off in advance, and vvc didn't 
— couldn't ! — catch them, but they saw us camp and break 
camp and followed suit. I really dreaded starting after 
lunch, but after some trouble to break the sledge out, we 
went ahead without a hitch, and in a mile or two recovered 
our leading place with obvious ability to keep it. At 6 I 
saw the other teams were flagging and so camped at 7, 
meaning to turn out earlier to-morrow and start a better 
routine. We have done about 8 or perhaps 9 miles (stat.) 
— the sledgcmeters are hopeless on such a surface. 
It is evident that what I expected has occurred. The 
whole of the lower valley is filled with snow from the recent 
storm, and if we had not had ski we should be hopelessly 
bogged. On foot one sinks to the knees, and if pulling on 
a sledge to half-way between. knee and thigh. It would, 
therefore, be absolutely impossible to advance on foot 
with our loads. Considering all things, we are getting 
better on ski. A crust is forming over the soft snow. In 
a week or so I have little doubt it will be strong enough to 
support sledges and men. At present it carries neither 
properly. The sledges get bogged every now and again, 
sinking to the crossbars. Needless to say, the hauling 
is terrible when this occurs. 
We steered for the Commonwealth Range during the 
forenoon till we reached about the middle of the glacier. 
This showed that the unnamed glacier to the S.W. raised 
great pressure. Observing this, I altered course for the 
* Cloudmaker ' and later still farther to the west. We must 
be getting a much better view of the southern side of the 
2 K 2 
