The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XII, No. 2 [‎274r] (50/154)

AN EXPLORATION IN 1897 OF SOME OF THE GLACIERS OF SPITSBERGEN. 141
remarkable appearance as seen from King’s bay. On August 1 we
climbed to the top of a pass over a spur of this group, and next day
descended to the left bank of the Crowns glacier, where we encamped at
the foot of a dolomite peak, named Pretender (3480 feet), on which
we did a day’s scrambling, whilst the men returned to the coast for
stores. August 4, we moved camp over difficult glacier as far as the
foot of the Middle Crown. We climbed the peak (4000 feet), and had a
remarkable view, embracing the enormous neve of the Crowns glacier,
the Cross bay mountains beyond it, the great plateau at its head, cut up
into neve valleys (like those in Garwood Land) draining south-east
towards Ekman bay. South was the irregular mountain region of King
James Land. Ice fiord was clear, with the hills of Adventure Land
beyond it. In the remote distance we thought that we identided the
towering wall of the Hornsunds Tinder.
On the 5th we made an 18-mile ski expedition over the neve, and
climbed a higher peak of the same group, the Diadem (4150 feet). The
view was similar to that from the Middle Crown, but more extensive to
the north. We climbei the Middle Crown again on the 6th. The 7th
and 8th were spent returning down difficult glaciers to our base camp
by King’s bay. Throughout the whole of this inland expedition we
enjoyed the most perfect weather it is possible to imagine. The four
days that followed were devoted to boat expeditions in King’s bay, but
the weather was foggy, and little surveying could be accomplished.
On the 13th we reached and finally quitted Advent bay. We
steamed down the west coast, and were dropped in Horn sound on the
14th. Here a week was spent. There was only one fine day (the 18th),
on which we climbed to the highest point of Mount Hedgehog, one of
the Hornsunds Tinder, though unfortunately not quite the highest
point of the range. Mount Hedgehog is the peak the ascent of which
was attempted in thick weather by Mr. Garwood and Mr. Trevor Battje
in 1896. They reached a high point on the side of the mountain, and
then were compelled to descend. Fortune was kinder to us. There
was a flat floor of cloud at a level of about 1000 feet, but above that all
was clear, and we enjoyed a marvellous and most instructive view, which
revealed the geography of all the south part of the island. On the 21st
the steamer Lofoten called for us on its way to Norway. Landings were
made at Bear island and the North cape. Thus an interesting expedi
tion was brought to an agreeable conclusion.
Both Garwood Land and King James Land are described on the chart
as covered with “ inland ice.” Now, if the phrase “ inland ice ” merely
means glaciers, so that it may be correctly applied to the glaciers of any
district of snow-mountains, such as the Alps or Caucasus, it is a useless
phrase, and ought to be abolished. Most persons of whom I have
inquired, receive from it a different impression, and judge it to be
descriptive of a complete and continuous icy mantle enveloping a