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Alone on the Ice | Map

Byrd's Advance Base Camp

"At midnight on February 15th, by the light of gasoline flares, the Advance Base shack was dismantled; and the sections were piled on two tractor sledges. Next afternoon, the four tractors moved out of Little America in echelon; trundling behind each was a string of sledges loaded down with fuel and meteorological gear and books and clothes and tools and all the other countless things required to defend existence in a place which offers nothing to man but air to breathe. Ahead of them ran a 178-mile life line through the heart of the Barrier...."
- - Richard Byrd, "Alone" 

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Supplies

  • 350 candles
  • 3 flashlights
  • 30 batteries 
  • 2 kerosene lanterns 
  • 2 sleeping bags 
  • 2 primus stoves 
  • an air-cushion 
  • 9 fire bombs 
  • a fire extinguisher 
  • a single folding chair 
  • 425 boxes of matches 
  • a gasoline pressure lantern
  • 3 aluminum buckets 
  • 2 wash basins 
  • 2 mirrors 
  • a calendar 
  • a small fireproof rug 
  • 2 candle holders 
  • 2 whisk brooms 
  • 3 dozen pencils 
  • 400 paper napkins
  • a box of thumbtacks 
  • a box of rubber bands 
  • 2 reams of writing paper 
  • a 5 gallon can stuffed with toilet paper
  • a thermos jug 
  • 2 decks of playing cards 
  • 4 yards of oilcloth 
  • pieces of asbestos 
  • 2 packets of tooth picks 
  • 360 pounds of meat 
  • 792 pounds of vegetables 
  • 73 pounds of soup 
  • 176 pounds of canned fruit 
  • 90 pounds of dried fruit 
  • 3 boxes of soap and laundry chips 
  • 56 pounds of desserts and a half ton of various staples including cereals
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