The first day of winter was beautiful ― mild, calm, and clear. Have spent the whole day surveying along the coast.

In this calm weather it was a real pleasure. Although we did not see the sun today, the mountains were covered with a pinkish light. In a short time this too will disappear.

[On this day Gran had a routing medical check, showing that his measurements were: 5’ 11", waist 31 ½", chest 40", weight 13st 3¾lb [84kg] ]

For the last time in many long months the sun could be seen over the ice tongue to the north. Daylight will soon be gone and the Antarctic night will rule the scene.

It’s Sunday, but we have busied ourselves anyhow in our map drawing.

This afternoon and this evening I worked on at my cubicle, and it is nearly finished now. The wall is decorated with my sledge flag and some photographs, and the cook has installed an electric light to read by.

We have begun night watches now that winter has arrived, mainly for the purpose of observing the aurora. Scott is on duty tonight. My first turn will come on 3 May.

Calm, good weather for a change. The sledge party has dried out its gear, and Teddy and I have kept on with our cartography.

‘Hark the herald angels sing’ [on the gramophone]. It sounds like home; [the] voice is wonderful and has great warmth.

This morning Teddy and I went out surveying. As usual it was cold and nasty work; I hope we have finished with this part. In the afternoon we made preparations for the map drawing.

(Later, at 10 o’clock) Scott, Wilson, Oates, Atkinson, Bowers, and Cherry-Garrard [Also Crean and Hooper.] have just come through the door having started at 10 a. m. They had a pretty rough passage which took two days. Day had a frost-bitten toe and has been laid up in the Discovery hut.

They are still discussing Amundsen. I can say nothing. God knows I am in a difficult position, and I hope to avoid the worst predicament by going with the party to the Western Mountains. I really don’t want to compete with my compatriots.

Snow-storm and foul weather the whole day. Teddy and I have buried ourselves in cartography.

It is impossible to stay outside. Storm and -25 °C.

The night was cold, calm, starlit and the Southern Lights flared over Erebus. After breakfast Teddy and I went out to our survey line and completed it. After lunch we went over to another station, but a sudden storm blew up from the south with drift snow and we had to take to our heels immediately.

We spent the rest of the day indoors. This evening Ponting related anecdotes from his journeys in Japan, and we laughed loud and long. It is really rather nice in the hut now that there are so few of us. I wish this situation could continue but tomorrow it will be swarming with people.

Today, again, we are discussing Amundsen; I wonder if the world is too? Our theme at the moment is Amundsen Scott.

At breakfast we discussed Amundsen. Most of those here consider he will reach the Pole first, if he is not driven out to sea. Their hut is built on the sea ice right under the Barrier. According to the people in Terra Nova, there were cracks between it and the hut. But I am convinced that experienced people like Amundsen and Johansen would not build on unsafe ground, if there were better to be found.

It seems my compatriots were not about to be pumped. There was absolutely nothing about their plans in the letter to Scott. I have made up my own mind on how Amundsen will strike out for the Pole.

This year he has made a depot journey south; he will have judged that we have been on Beardmore [Glacier]. It is difficult to say how far his journey has taken him, but I should imagine it is between latitude 80° and 81° [actually latitude 82°S]. He is therefore ahead of us. It was clear this morning with wind and 25 °C of frost. Teddy Evans and I went on with our work and spent the whole day on triangulation.

Scott, Bowers, Day and Nelson left this morning for Hut Point. The weather was quite good, although a cold wind from the northeast was blowing.

The whole morning and a good deal of the afternoon I passed with Teddy. We nearly surveyed ourselves to death for there was more than 20°C of frost.

 

Easter Sunday and we had a service in the hut this morning.

All the same Lieutenant Teddy Evans and I have been at work on our triangulation; we must make use of the daylight while we have it. It was an unpleasant experience.

[Young Gran was handed over to me to help with the survey work and astronomical observations which had to be taken from time to time. He was a most entertaining assistant. Without complaint, he stood patiently shivering in that cutting winter wind, whilst I swung around the theodolite telescope and took angles for him to write down from time to time. Lieut Evans].

During the morning Teddy and I went out to establish a survey line for our triangulation. Demetri accompanied us; he is a nice, clever chap. It turned nasty in the morning, and we therefore postponed our work and I have been working on my own things. The bunk will soon be ready.

Teddy Evans told me today that in a letter Rennick had expressed his conviction that Amundsen would reach the Pole first. I have seen some photographs Campbell has sent Scott, including a group picture of the Amundsen expedition. They are nine. Of these I have so far only identified Amundsen, Bjaaland, and Johansen. I am not sure whether Gjertsen is among them but I believe so, for according to Nelson a ‘young lieutenant’) had asked Campbell a lot about me.

Campbell had eaten in Amundsen’s hut. The hut looks pretty small from the photograph; the Norwegian flag flies from the gable. As to whether this is their winter quarters or not, opinions are divided; some believe they went to sea during the autumn storms, others that the cold on the Barrier will kill the dogs; I and some others believe his choice of site is in conformity with the whole plan.

Everything depends on luck; if it is with them, there are great advantages in that site for they are a whole degree nearer the Pole than we are here; if luck is against them, it will be disaster. ‘All or nothing’ is Amundsen’s motto, they say, and I agree with him. It is beginning to get colder now, the temperature in the night dropped to -23°C.