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This morning I was up at 6:40 -- had been awake a long time -- to go to radio tent for 7:00 am talk w. Buzy. Basically the situation is as follows: Bill is asking for evacuation on the 12th or 13th, depending on weather. Langdon is asking for Polar Duke to stay in fishing grounds until time to reach here on the 14th & evacuate us in one day. It came to an impasse SO THEY CALLED WILLIAMSON IN WASHINGTON !!!!!!!!!!!! Without even knowing about our weather conditions or science progress. Bill asked if he was or was not a chefe[[chief]] scientist for the expedition. Buzy told him he was Cheif[[chief]] Sci. for Seymour Is. but Langdon had sci. responsibilities for the Palmer-fishing part of it. We left it at an impasse and agreed to talk again Friday at 8:00 A.M. I suspect that they overestimate the potential aid from the Argentines, who seem to have no helicopters this year. The morning began nicely -- sky mostly blue with the first bright sun we had seen in days. Bill, Mike, & I had coffee & pancakes in cook tent after radio conflab, then went to the big tent, rolled up the door flap, and basked in the early sun. We talked a lot and after awhile -- ~ 9:00 others appeared -- Brian Huber for one, who still could not go out because of snow cover on hills. Another day in camp. After awhile I got chilly and went back to our tent. Tony was just leaving for breakfast in cook tent -- which, of course, I didn't need. By now the sky was becoming overcast & wind rising & it was cold -- ~25 [[degrees]]. I went in & got cozy in sleeping bag. Decided to read Way of All Flesh. Wind rose higher & higher. Tony was ready to go out, but Larry came by and said [[end page]] [[start page]] it was unfeasible -- 25[[degrees]] and 30 mph & windchill severe. It was 42[[degrees]] in our tent. I stayed comfortable all pm. reading & drying as wind heightened. Tony worked on [[?]] then came in at end of p.m. I went out ~6:00 to get hamburger for dinner & use privy and could barely stand up. Gusts continually threatened to throw me over. [[strikethrough]] No snow. [[/strikethrough]] no new snow falling, but blowing snow stung face and eyes. Tried walking sideways -- noticed Bill out taking movies as I plodded home. I should try a slide or two tomorrow -- because a big blow is on -- wind from SW again & such force & flapping & vibrating of ground as we had our first days here. The power surprises me -- it is as tho I had forgotten most of it so soon. At 9:25 we are both in bed, lantern glowing, w. tremendous gale tearing at our tent. This time, however we will not worry about tent collapsing. We are better prepared & better fed from our convivial meals. An exciting autumn on Seymour Island. [[underlined]] February 28. [[/underlined]] Storm all day long. Wind from SW so strong it nearly blew me off my feet several times. Using ice axe and crunching thru snow I held my footing. About 9:30 Tony & I went to cook tent & made pancakes & dk bad coffee w milk. Fred joined after awhile. Then I came back to tent & read Way of All Flesh for 3 hours or so. Tony was invited to play cribbage w. Jeff. In P.M. I wanted out -- sun was bright but blowy snow mixed w dust gritted teeth & got in eyes. I went to big tent & found noone. But it was good to walk around in there. Not too cold. An impressive sight outside w wildly blowing snow & sun on far edge of sea.