i 9 i2] HAPPY MOMENTS ON FIRM LAND 565 
ditions arc more favourable. We have been in shadow all 
the afternoon, but the sun has just reached us, a little 
obscured by night haze. A lot could be written on the 
delight of setting foot on rock after 14 weeks of snow 
and ice and nearly 7 out of sight of aught else. It is like 
going ashore after a sea voyage. We deserve a little 
good bright weather after all our trials, and hope to get a 
chance to dry our sleeping-bags and generally make our 
gear more comfortable. 
Friday 9 February 9. — R. 23. Height 5,210 ft. Lunch 
Temp, + io°; Supper Temp. + 12-5°. About 13 miles. 
Kept along the edge of moraine to the end of Mt. Buckley. 
Stopped and geologised. Wilson got great find of vege- 
table impression in piece of limestone. Too tired to write 
geological notes. We all felt very slack this morning, 
partly rise of temperature, partly reaction, no doubt. 
Ought to have kept close in to glacier north of Mt. Buckley, 
but in bad light the descent looked steep and we kept out. 
Evidently we got amongst bad ice pressure and had to 
come down over an ice-fall. The crevasses were much 
firmer than expected and we got down with some difficulty, 
found our night camp of December 20, and lunched an 
hour after. Did pretty well in the afternoon, marching 
32 hours ; the sledgemcter is unshipped, so cannot tell 
distance traversed. Very warm on march and we are all 
pretty tired. To-night it is wonderfully calm and warm, 
though it has been overcast all the afternoon. It is 
remarkable to be able to stand outside the tent and sun 
oneself. Our food satisfies now, but we must march to 
keep in the full ration, and wc want rest, yet we shall 
