stefansson-wrangel-09-25-006-046

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we intend to wait for a blow to pack it."

December 31st, after weather that had usually been good
for two months, we have "a howling gale from the east. As Crawford was build-
ing a fire this morning the dogs set up a howl and Crawford rushed out but it
was impossible to see more than a foot or two. The dogs soon quieted down
and so whatever was in camp did not stay long. Hard luck. Snow drifting as
hard as can be imagined." This gale continued the first three days of 1923..
"Blowing a howling gale .... Part of the north wall (of the outer house)
blew away and some snow drifted in (between the house wall and the outside of
the tent) but did no damage. The wind on the afternoon of January 3rd nearly
died down and it is now cloudy."

January 4th we have the next mention of the trip. "l
have been busy packing up to-day as we hope to get away in a day or two."
January 7, "Crawford and I spent the day getting ready, loading the sled,
getting things together, etc. Maurer and Galle to their traps. Maurer got
a fox and saw several tracks."

Then we have apruptly under date of January 7th, "At
1 A.M. Crawford and I started due south over fine going and making good time.
We traveled west an hour and hit broken-up young ice with soft snow in between.
The moon is about one-quarter on the wane and it was slightly misty as we went
east along the rough ice for two and a half hours. After numerous tip-overs
because of increasing darkness, we camped. We are now about six miles east
of camp and a mile offshore. Our load is rather heavy and the dogs soft from
inaction, so we will go in to the beach to-morrow and travel east along it,
watching for an opportunity to go south on good going. We lost one of our two
ice picks and a pot lid. Rather a bad start."

It has seemed strange to some commentators that the party