N.Z. Dog Team Nearing End Of 1700-Mile Trek

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28513, 17 February 1958, Page 8

N.Z. Dog Team Nearing End Of 1700-Mile Trek

(New Zealand Press Association)

SCOTT BASE, February 16. Mr J. Holmes Miller and Dr. George Marsh estimated that by the time they reach Scott Base about February 22 they will have sledged an estimated 1700 miles with their dog teams. They left Skelton. Depot this morning with 180 miles to go to Scott Base, having already covered 1400 miles since they took their huskies on the trail in late October.

Flying Officer W. Cranfleld flew the Beaver aircraft into the depot to take mail and small supplies to Mr Miller and Dr. Marsh ahd to bring out the last of the gear still there.

Skelton Depot, on the Ross Ice

Shelf, is the last point where Dr. Fuchs’s party will pick up supplies on the route to Scott Base. Mr Miller said this morning: ‘‘There was a homely thrill in being back among the mountains of the Skelton Glacier after almost 600 miles of the featureless plateau we have travelled since leaving the Queen Alexandra mountains.**

On the journey now across the barrier to McMurdo Sound, the men will be able to observe the performance of the dogs and themselves at sea level and at high—or comparatively hightemperatures.

The party has spent more than 100 days at altitudes of more than 8000 feet. Men and dogs have become perfectly acclimatised to hard working conditions and sub-zero temperatures at a height of more than one mile and a half.

Dr. Marsh, who is the expedition’s medical officer, said the performance of the dogs on the long journey, had exceeded expectations.

“After a slow start, due no doubt to the height at which they were working and the persistent low temperatures of the plateau in early November, they improved and acclimatised far more than we initially dared to hope,” he said. He added that the long period they had- spent at altitudes of more than 8000 feet had in no way led to deterioration in their condition.

“In fact, during the return journey from the Queen Alexandra Mountains, the dogs have continuously covered more than 20 miles a day.”

Still heavily sunburned and bearded, the two men have an eight-day journey to bring them finally back to base and their transport home.