The Lorne Knight Diary, vol. 2

E.L.KNIGHT VOL II

K&T 34

Vol. II Beginning January 4 1923 Diary of E. L. Knight of the Stefansson Exploration and Development Company of Vancouver B.C.

Finder please send this book to A.J. Taylor 614 Credit Foncier Bldg Vancouver B.C.

1

January 4 - 1923

1 fox M

Altho the other volume of my diary is not quite full I am starting this Vol II today. Galle and Maurer to their traps. Galle got nothing and saw no tracks. Maurer found a dead, frozen fox in his traps and the paw of another one. Crawford busy outside. I have been busy packing up today as we hope to set away in a day or two. Clear & calm

January 5

Maurer & Galle to their traps. No luck. Crawford and I are about ready to [leave worked] we will probably do tomorrow. Clear, calm and cold. Galle reports that from the old camp site, signs of open water can be seen to the S. & S.W.E. These signs cannot be seen from here, however

January 6+7th

Crawford and I spent the day getting ready, loading the sled, getting things together etc etc. Maurer & Galle to their traps. Galle got nothing & Maurer got a female fox, and saw several tracks. [P] As A.M. Jan 7th Crawford & I started due South over fine [going] and making good time. We traveled just an hour and hit broken up young ice with soft snow inbetween. The moon is about 1/4 on the wane and it was slightly misty as we went East along the rought ice for 2 1/2 hrs. After numerous tip-overs because of increasing darkness we camped. it We are now about 6 mi. East of camp and a mile off shore Our load is rather heavy and the dogs soft from inaction

so we will go into the beach tomorrow and travel East along it watching for an opportunity to go South on good going. Cold, Mist, & strong breeze from the East. We lost one of our two ice picks and a pot lid, rather a bad start.

January 8 Camp # 2

Broke camp at 8:20 A.M. and traveled until 2:30 P.M. camping because of darkness. Our watches are incorrect but will have to use them. Camped on the outside of Roger's Harbor [candspit] about 1/4 mi. W. of old "Kanlick" camp & grave.The going all day was wonderful, very little snow and so hard as concrete. The only signs of life seen were some old bear & fox tracks [made lorf] fall in the [duph] ice or R. Har.[P] Our load consists of about 700 lbs. beside the sled and the food is nearly all Pilot bread & blubber (seal). There is a few pounds of dried meat for the the dog its and when that is gone I will feed 4 seal skins that we have along for that purpose. In all there is about 30 days rations and by then we should be in Siberia. Light breeze from the W. Clear & very cold.

January 9 - #2

Still nothing but sleep all day as both Crawford and I were badly chafed and sore. A rather poor [of wise] but the only one we have. Clear, calm, & very cold.

January 10 Camp # 3.

Broke camp early this morning and again started due South. A short way from the beach we [immediately]

hit soft snow and I had to get in the harness with the dogs. About 2 miles off shore we again came to the edge of the [mangh] ice which was impassible for the small team and poor sled that we have. We traveled East about 4 miles getting nearer to the shore all the time and finally camped on the shore side of the [pressure] ridge due South of the Western part of Cape Hawaii, about 2 mi. off shore. The going ahead looks very bad, and as we only have 5 dogs in poor condition and the weather is very cold, it is needless to say that going is very difficult. Unless we get started South soon I am afraid that we will have to go back to the [main] camp and then go West looking for a way there [The noroght] are Beginning up from the W. Clear & very cold.

January 11

Blowing a light gale from the N.E. and drifting snow Stayed in camp. Cold & clear.

January 12 Camp #4

Broke camp at 9:30 A.M. and traveled until about 11:30 A.M. We first went S. to the [present] ridge and from the top of it saw a xxxxx smooth ice running E. & W. We made a road there several hundred feet of of [rubble and got] to the smooth ice and found it to be a lead that had opened up some time during January 11.It was covered with young ice and drifted snow and looked like [it rolled] ice to us when we had started for it. The going to the East as far as we can tell from here is practically impassible for us with five dogs and a weak sled so we