DIFFICULTY IN FOLLOWING TRACKS 
553 
the finding of the Three Degree Depot. The tracks seem as 
good as ever so far ; sometimes for 30 or 40 yards we lose 
them under drifts, but then they reappear quite clearly- 
raised above the surface. If the light is good there is not 
the least difficulty in following. Blizzards are our bug- 
bear, not only stopping our marches, but the cold damp 
air takes it out of us. Bowers got another rating sight 
to-night — it was wonderful how he managed to observe in 
such a horribly cold wind. He has been on ski to-dav 
whilst Wilson walked by the sledge or pulled ahead of it. 
Friday^ January 26. — Temp. - 17 0 . Height 9700, must 
be high barometer. Started late, 8.50 — for no reason, 
as I called the hands rather early. We must have fewer 
delays. There was a good stiff breeze and plenty of drift, 
but the tracks held. To our old blizzard camp of the 7th 
we got on well, 7 miles. But beyond the camp we found the 
tracks completely wiped out. We searched for some time, 
then marched on a short way and lunched, the weather 
gradually clearing, though the wind holding. Knowing 
there were two cairns at four mile intervals, we had little 
anxiety till we picked up the first far on our right, then 
steering right by a stroke of fortune, and Bowers' sharp 
eyes caught a glimpse of the second far on the left. Evi- 
dently we made a bad course outward at this part. There 
is not a sign of our tracks between these cairns, but the 
last, marking our night camp of the 6th, No. 59, is in the 
belt of hard sastrugi, and I was comforted to see signs 
of the track reappearing as we camped. I hope to good- 
ness we can follow it to-morrow. We marched 16 miles 
(gco.) to-day, but made good only 15*4. 
