Part 50 (1/2)

6

14

8.10 (A. M.) to 6.15 (P. M.). Snow hard. Ice

flat. Few hummocks. Less wavy. Snow (shoes).

Sun faces.

7

14

11 to 10. Beautiful clear weather; even the

night sky clear. Midnight sun first seen.

Ice 36 ft. (thick). (Another measurement gave

21 feet.)

8

9

Observation before starting, 86.36, 94.2. In

spite of what seemed like long marches we made

only 106 miles in 9 days. Much distance lost in

crossings. (From field paper) bar. 29.50,

rising; temp. -37; wind mag. N. E., 2; clouds

St. 3; shadow (6 ft. pole), 32 feet.

9

14

9 A. M. to 5.30 P. M.; snow hard; ice about the

same; wind cutting; frost bites. Clothes humid.

10

16

10 P. M. to 7 A. M. Working hours changed; big

marches and long hours no longer possible; snow

good; ice steadily improving; bodily fatigue

much felt; wind 1-28 W.

11

15

10.30 to 8 A. M. Observation end of March,

87.20, 95.19; the pack disturbance of B. Ld.

lost; farthest north; little crushed ice;

old floes less irregular; anxious about food;

wind 3 W. (true); 300 miles in 24 days; work

intermittent; too tired to read instruments.

(From other field notes, Temp. -39;

bar. 29.90.)

12

21

11 P. M. to 7 A. M. Thoughts of return. Food

supply reduced. Hope to economize in warmer

weather. Very heavy ice. Much like land ice.

Wind 2 W. S. W. The awful monotony!

13

17

12 P. M. to 7 A. M. The same heavy glacier-like

ice.... The occasional soup. Hummocks 15-20 ft.

Ahwelah in tears at start. W. black. Sun under

rus.h.i.+ng vapors. Ice changes. Leads.

14

23

11 P. M. to 7.10 A. M. 88.21, 95.52. Wind light

but penetrating. Off the big field, ice smaller.

Some open leads. Little sign of pressure. Snow

soft, but less precipitation. Dogs get up

better speed. 100 miles from Pole. (From other

observation papers: Bar. 29.90, falling;

temp., -44; shadow (6 ft. pole) 30 feet.)

15

14

10 P. M. to 7 A. M. Ice same. Wind -1, S. W.

Working to the limit of muscle capacity. So

tired and weary of the never ceasing tread!

16

15

10.30 to 8 A. M. Ice pa.s.sed. Several heavy old

floes. Made 6 crossings. Wind 1-3, W. S. W.

17

13

10.15 to 8 A. M. Ice same. Creva.s.ses new.

7 crossings. Saw several big hummocks. Ice

less troublesome. Temp., -40; bar., 30.00.

Sled friction less.

18

14

9 P. M. to 6. Ice, though broken, smooth. The

horizon line not so irregular as that of more

S. ice. Sky and ice of a dark purple blue.

(Bar. 30.02.)

19

16

11 P. M. to 8 A. M. (Position) 89.31. D. R.

94.03. Camp on an old field--the only one on

the horizon with big hummocks. Ice in very large

fields; surface less irregular, but in other

respects not different from farther S. Eskimos

told that in two average marches Pole would be

reached. Extra rations served. Camp in tent.

(Bar., 29.98; Temp., -46.)

20

15

8 P. M. to 4 A. M. An exciting run; ice aglow in

purple and gold; Eskimos chanting. Wind, S. 1

89; 46.45. (D. R.) 94.52. New enthusiasm; good

march. Temp., -36; bar. (not legible on notes);

course set for 97th.

21

13

1 A. M. to 9 A. M. Observations noon: 89; 59.45;

ped. 14. Camp; sleep in tent short time; after

observations advance; pitch tent; (also) made

camp--snow--prepared for two rounds of

observations. Temp., 37.7; bar., 29.83. Nothing

wonderful; no Pole; a sea of unknown depth; ice

more active; new cracks; open leads; but surface

like farther south. Overjoyed but find no words

to express pleasure. So tired and weary! How we

need a rest! 12, night. Sun seems as high as at

noon, but in reality is a little higher, owing

to its spiral ascent. The mental elation--the

drying of furs, and (making) photos--Eskimos'

ideas and disappointment of no Pole--thoughts

of home and its cheer. But oh, such monotony of

sky, wind and ice! The dangers of getting back.

(From other observation papers: Temp, ranged

from -36 by mercury thermometer to -39 by

spirit thermometer; clouds Alt. St., 1; wind

mag. S., 1; ice blink E.; water sky, W.; shadow

(of 6 ft. pole) 28 feet.)

22

0

Moved camp 4 m. magnetic S. Made 4 observations

for alt.i.tude; S. at noon, W. at 6, N. at 12M, E.

at 6 A. M. Ice same; more open water; wind 2-3;

temp., -41; (from field paper) W. S. W., 1 to

2. There are only two big hummocks in sight.

(Made a series of observations for the sun's

alt.i.tude, 2 on the 21st at the first camp, 4 on

the 22nd at W. M. camp, and another midnight

22-23. Before we left deposited tube.)

23

20

Start for home. 12.30 to noon. Fairly clear--ice

smooth, but many new creva.s.ses. Temp., -41.

Course for 100 mer.

24

16

11 P. M. to 9 A. M. These records, being made at

the end of the day's journey, give the doings of

the day previous--this note for the 24th is in

reality written on the morning of the 25th, when

comfortable in camp. Wind 1-2 W. Temp., -36.

Ice smooth--fields larger; 5 crossings; the

pleasure of facing home.

25

15

8-8. Temp., -37; Wind 1-2 W. S. W.; ice same.

The worry of ice breaking up for me, signs of

joy for the Eskimo.

26

14

9 to 7. Still much worried about return;

possibility of ice disruption and open water

near land; wind light; ice shows new cracks,

but few have opened; seems to be little

pressure; few hummocks; snow hard and

traveling all that could be desired.

27

14

9.30 to 8. Ice same; wind S. E. 1; good going;

crossings not troublesome; dogs in good spirits;

Eskimos happy; but all very tired. Temp., -40.

28

14

9.15 to 7.45. Ice same; wind 1 W.; snow

moderately hard; few hummocks and no pressure

lines.

29

13

Midnight to 8.45 A. M. Ice more active; fresh

cracks; some open cracks but no leads. Wind 1 S.

30

15

Midnight to 8 A. M. Ped. registered 121 m. from

Pole; camp by D. R., 87.59-100; observations

88.01, 97.42. Course half point more W.

Temp., -34. Start more westerly.

May

1

18

12.30 to 9 A. M. Much color to the sunbursts, 1908.

but the air humid; the temperature persistently

near -40, but considerable range with the

direction of the light winds and mists when

they come over leads. Much very heavy smooth

ice--undulating, not hummocky like S.

2

12

2 A. M. to 11 A. M. Fog, clouds and wet air.

Temp., -15. Hard to strike a course.

3

13

1 A. M. to 10 A. M. Thick weather; wind E. 2;

ice friction less; occasional light snow fall.

4

14

3 to 11 A. M. Air clear but sky obscured; ice

very good, but hummocks appearing on the

horizon.

5

11

11 P. M. to 6 A. M. Strong wind; occasional