stefansson-wrangel-09-31-119r

THE FIRST AUTUMN ON WRANGEL ISLAND 195

with snow blocks, 14x24 feet, with a storm shed⁴ in front
9x14 feet. Inside of the frame house are two tents, one
8x10 and one 10x12, pitched end to end and sewed
together.”

The next few days they kept improving their quarters
and there are in several places in the diary expressions
of their satisfaction in the comfort of the house. On
October 23rd they brought most of their supplies into the
storm shed. On the 24th “Crawford made a table for
the kitchen, Maurer made a door for the front tent, Galle
and I did various necessary things about the camp.” The
entries for the next few days are filled with similar details
until all comforts and conveniences had been arranged.
On October 27th “All four of us went to one of our caches
of meat, about 1 1/2 miles to the westward, and brought
home several days’ dog feed.”

On October 31st: “All hands went with a sled and
dogs to our two caches of bear meat to the westward.
The large bear and cub killed by Galle and Maurer were
all eaten by birds and foxes. The first bear killed by
Maurer and me had all been packed⁵ home excepting the
head and neck, which we now brought. Also hauled
some wood to camp.”

On November 3rd: “Crawford and Galle, each with a
back pack, started ... to climb the large mountain
north of our camp. We have been calling this Berry
Peak, but east of us can be seen another mountain, which
may be Berry Peak. The explorers will leave a record
and monument on the mountain and Crawford intends to

⁴ A storm shed is so called because it is used to store firewood and
other necessaries so you don’t have to go outdoors for them in really
bad weather. Another purpose is to prevent snow from swirling into
the house proper when the door is opened.

⁵ To pack, in the jargon of the North, means to transport on the backs
of men or dogs.