Part I: Seals teeth and whales ears - Scott Polar Research Institute ...

The only Kandahar bindings we had were the type in which the quick-release was on
the ski fitting and having been most-used those skis were very worn, so we
transferred the bindings to the least-worn pairs. In any case we were due for a case of
new skis in the year's stores still to come later in the season - presumably at least two
pairs plus Kandahar bindings. Derek gave the old skis a coat of linseed oil. We also
gave the clumsy Army sledges a coat of linseed oil and took the two least worn to
pieces for scraping and re-lashing, as the rawhide bindings had become rather slack.
Both skis and sledge runners were coated with a mixture of Stockholm tar and
linseed oil and seemed to be soaking it up quite well. Derek cooked the skis, burning
in the tar with a blowlamp. The sledges were 7 foot Nansen (modified) and we
busied ourselves getting them in order - two were more or less ready but the third
was in pieces and had to be assembled from scratch using bits and pieces. Derek was
in charge of the sledge repairs. Derek and Ralph bound the metal struts to the sledge
runners and soldered them to give strength; we thought that copper wire should be
strong enough.
I outlined our plans over the radio to Dr Fuchs at Base E and after lunch on 25
March a message came through from him promising me 100 man/days of sledging
rations, skis, rope, crampons, and a man-hauling sledge if required. He enjoined us
not to take any undue risks. I replied later that day thanking him. and told him we
had sledges. I also asked for a diagram of a man-hauling harness by mail if the ship
got through.
Unfortunately on 9 April a message came to say that Fitzroy would not be calling
at Base E due to adverse ice conditions; so this meant no pemmican or other field
rations or proper sledging equipment would be transferred. A few days later
however, we overheard a message from Dr Fuchs to Hope Bay (Base D) asking them
to send us pemmican etc. to us, which was welcome news. Then on 24 April there
was a message from Fuchs to say that as there were to be only two in party to
Coronation we must restrict our work to the coast. So I asked whether there was any
chance of all three of us being allowed away from base for the Coronation work. He
replied saying that we could be out of wireless contact for no more than 6 days, and
that he would like to be informed at least 48 hrs in advance of departure if possible.
This was disappointing.
It was getting colder day by day and one morning in the middle of May I got out
the duffel slippers and sealskin boots and we managed to find pairs which fitted.
They were all in very poor condition and needed a good oiling. As we weren't too
happy about the ‘lightweight mountain tent’ We erected the pyramid tent on a patch
of snow near the Met screen. But we found that it was in rather bad condition:
several tapes were missing, there were stains on the inner lining and signs of mildew
also. Also I was rather disturbed at the small size of the floor which was only 5 ft x 5
ft. After the Ob that day Derek and I got out the sleeping bags from the Nissen where
they had been getting damper and colder than ever. Now they were all draped
around the living hut - airing.
I slept out that night to test the sleeping bags. I had been waiting for low
temperatures as a good test, and it was -13.5°C, but I couldn't persuade either of the
others to spend the night in the tent with me! In the event I had a more or less
comfortable night, punctuated by the crackle of the tent fabric in the wind and by
occasional wakings to the cold. Unfortunately the tent was very small and it was not
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