Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
39
Figure 2.7. In this late-summer view to the north from Castle Rock, seasonal ice drifts languidly out
from the ice front. Outlined by its alternating light and dark edge, Erebus Ice Tongue crosses the
photo in the near distance. The most distant point at the base of Ross Island is Cape Royds, site of
Shackleton's 1907-1909 base. The bright white band immediately in front of that is Barne Glacier,
and the thin, light line in front of that is Cape Evans, site of Scott's 1910-1912 base. The slope of
Mount Erebus rises to the right. In the foreground is Arrival Heights, about a mile to the right (to the
east) of where Vince perished during Scott's first expedition.
require a major commitment of support parties to place depots for the return leg. Armit-
age would lead a party of six to the west, seeking a passage through the mountains in the
vicinity of New Harbour. A third party, led by Royds, was to attempt a crossing through
the mountains to the southwest following the glacier that flowed out from the north side
of Mount Discovery.
The spring saw a flurry of sledging trips in preparation for the major traverses. These
were more and less successful, but the men were learning, in some cases the hard way,
how to secure camp in a storm, how to cross crevassed terrain, how to handle dogs, and
with each trip they grew fitter. Fitter, that is, until several of the men in Armitage's recon-
naissance party to New Harbour developed symptoms of scurvy. This set all projected
