The Grottoes

In their own words

We turned out a little after 6 — & so did the wind. When I went outside there was a fine drift — by the time we had breakfast, it was thick — before noon a regular blizzard. All to be seen from the door (over the half snowed up entrance) was a white smoke-like whirl of flying snow. Flying into the verandah, encrusting door, walls & boxes — banking up even against our door & a couple of feet high. Not much coming in now, for the good reason that the entrance to the verandah is all snowed up! …

The hut is very satisfactory, so far — the verandah makes it snug & comfortable — & warm too. Temperature in here today 65°Fah. — yet the inside of skylights encrusted with ice — condensation from cold outside. There is a vestibule where one can shake off the snow, & second door. Wild’s cabin is a snug little room …

— Charles Harrisson, diary entry, 11 March 1912