Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/187

Dickason and I were suffering from snow-blindness we did not march till 3, when the wind eased. Camped at the entrance of the Boomerang Glacier, which I think may be a possible way through to Wood Bay.

January 13.—Turned out at 6. A lovely morning, so leaving camp standing we went a little way up the Boomerang Glacier to see if it would be possible to get the sledges up. The route looked feasible but probably difficult for sledges, so I decided to try the main glacier first. Returning to camp about 1 o'clock we pulled north, camping for the night north of the Boomerang and under some steep ice slopes.

January 14.—Another fine day. Dickason and I were snow-blind, so the others climbed the ice slope to see if they could find a way for the sledge. They returned to camp about 3.30, and said that after climbing several ice undulations, more or less crevassed, they came to a steep ice slope leading to a rocky ridge.

Owing to the nails having come out of Browning's boots he kept losing his balance and nearly dragging the party down with him, and as there were several large crevasses at the bottom of the slope, Priestley very wisely decided to return. The icefalls we see from our present camp apparently connect with the ridge. It was worth going on to see, however, so we got under weigh and marched till 7 p.m., when we camped at the foot of the first ice falls on snow, the weather having come over very thick in the afternoon.

January 15.—Still and very thick when we turned out at 6 a.m., so there was nothing for it but to turn in