ce-cap abuts against this extinct volcano at
an elevation of about four hundred feet above sea-level; the summit of
the mountain rises another eight hundred feet. On the north, the rock
descends to the floe. Gaussberg is pyramidal in shape, falling steeply,
from a ridge at the summit. The sides are covered with a loose rubble
of volcanic fragments, square yards of which commence to slide at the
slightest disturbance. This renders climbing difficult and accounts for
the large numbers of isolated blocks fringing the base.

At the summit two cairns were found, the bamboo poles which had
previously marked them having blown over. Further examination revealed
many other bamboos which had been used as marks, but no other record of
the visit of the German expedition, ten years before, was met. Bird life
was not plentiful, being limited to a few skuas, Wilson petrels and
snow petrels; the latter nesting under slabs of rock. There were large
quantities of moss where thaw-water had been running.

The ice and snow near the mountain showed evidences of marked thawing,
and we had difficulty in finding a favourable spot for our camp.

Christmas Day was gloriously fine, with just sufficient wind to
counteract the heat of the sun. At midday the Christmas "hamper" was
opened, and it was not long before the only sign of the plum-pudding was
the tin. In the afternoon we ascended the mountain and left a record in
a cairn at the top. By the route followed, Gaussberg was two hundred
and fifteen miles from "The Grottoes" but relay work had made the actual
distance covered three hundred miles.

We had been away from home seven weeks, and, though there was sufficient
food for an outward journey of another week, there was no indication
that the country would change. Further, from the summit of Gaussberg one
could see almost as far as could be marched in a week. Accordingly it
was decided to commence our return on the 26th, making a course almost
due east, thus cutting out numerous detours which had to be taken on the
outward journey.

We left the mountain on December 26, pursuing a course to the south
of our outward track so as to avoid some crevassed ridges. Ascending
steadily against a continuous headwind, we picked up the second sledge
at midday on the 28th.

Next day all the gear was transferred to one sledge and a course made
direct to the Helen Glacier; the other sledge being abandoned.

On December 31, after a day's blizzard, the su