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As we continued down beach, with tide higher and ice thicker Bill said: those who fall behind going at own pace just follow beach to cross valley & then turn left for camp. I replied: But how about turning back & looking for stragglers now and then? That must have gotten to him because he stayed with us the rest of the way. Lucky he did: the way was not easy. He hadn't counted on the thick masses of ice or floes where we had to wade thru tide-- and we couldn't even reach the cross valley (Scott did but it wasn't practical for all of us to). Brian Huber blazed a path up a very steep ravine filled w. snow. At top at 7:45 we all rested & I asked if it would be another hour to camp. Oh certainly not, they said, its all down hill, a short hike, maybe half an hour. But all I could see were more steep hills, and indeed that was what lay there. Up & over, wallowing in mud; up and over. I kept insisting we wait for Luis; he was pale & winded & proud. At one point I passed Larry and spoke to him. He looked straight at me, grinned, & asked me to repeat. That was the first time he had, in effect, recognized me as a person. I told him I thought Luis might actually be ill, so he went back & stayed w. Luis awhile. At one stop, Bill sprawled on ground and said--"You're taking away all my excuses -- I'm getting too old for this." On & on & on...finally to the valley floor to ice & water. Camp had been in sight for a long time but looked so far away. When we finally dragged up to our tent, at 8:50 Toni & I sat on our boxes & Scott came over w a can of 

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beer for each of us. He held one right out to me with a big smile. That was the first notice he had taken of me. I decided I had won my spurs on that long hike. Toni & I were too tired, & cold & wet to cook the steaks that had been defrosting all day in the cook tent. But soon enough Fred announced dinner in half an hour. A full can of Turkey Tetrazini & some green beans. The gathering was very jolly -- I was v. definitely part of it -- even w. Charlie. Soon after dinner we retired too tired to write in our journals. We had seen the bredth & much of the length of the island & much of the height. We agreed it was too much for one day. Tony had tired feet & sore knees & shoulders. I gave her a chemical hot pad and Scott rubbed her back. I had no plans for work tomorrow beyond, perhaps, examining the [[underlined]] sack of boundary ^[[#342]] material Jeff scooped up at one contact. [[/underlined]]

[[underlined]] Friday, February 22.[[/underlined]] Scott's birthday and G. Washington's. Overcast sky with fog in valleys. I was free today, but Tony had an 8:30 conference w Brian & Larry to review yesterday & plan today. It looked threatening. Yet despite all appearances, they decided to go to the Meseta today. Tony was packed off again by 9:30 or so. I rearranged my gear again; filthy wet, muddy pants from yesterday I hung outside for want of something better. Filled a 2-gallon water jug w. clean snow. Filled fuel jar and new stove, collected new supplies of oatmeal, said hello to Jeff & agreed to meet at 1:30 in big house. I arrived there earlier just about when Cheney did. He lit stove & lanterns. We have had freezing rain all