The Ascent of Mount Erebus
tents and poles, ice axes, alpine rope, ski-boots, finneskoes and sennegraes, and crampons were all got ready in hot haste. The crampons had to be specially made for the occasion. They are stout leather soles, each furnished with seven iron spikes, and provided with loops, so that they can be strapped on to the finneskoes, to prevent the wearer slipping on hard snow or ice. It was past midnight before the last spike was riveted.
On March 5th, after breakfast at 6 a. m., the packing of the 11 ft. sledge was completed; its total weight, with its load, being about five hundredweights.
The sledging party, arrayed in their antarctic costumes, including Burbery suits, then got into their sledging harness, and were photographed by Lieutenant Shackleton. The sledgers, six in number, were divided into parties of three each. The party for the ascent consisted of Dr. A. F. Mackay, D. Mawson, and Professor David, and was provisioned for eleven days.
The supporting party was formed of Lieut. J. B. Adams, Dr. E. S. Marshall and Sir Phillip Brocklehurst, and was provisioned for six days. The arrangement was that the supporting party were to assist the main party, until the ground became impracticable for a sledge. The former were then to return to winter quarters, unless they saw that it was practicable for
