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It was planned that the Southern Party would sledge out of Scott Base early or mid October, travel approximately 150 miles up the western side of McMurdo Sound to Mawaon Glacier and proceed to topographically and geologically survey the area between the Mawson and Davis Glaciers. During this phase of the season's operations - expected to take 40 days - the party was to be accompanied by a four-man motor toboggan party, led by Mr Ray Logie| for the purpose of comparing the relative merits of the dog teams and the motor toboggans as a means of Antarctic field travel. (Separate reports on the performance and capabilities of the toboggans have been prepared by Messrs Ray Logie and Peter Otway.)

Subject to the selection of a suitable landing strip on teh south side of the David Glacier, the toboggan party was to be picked up and flown back to McMurdo and the dog team party was to be airlifted approximately 130 mile north to the southern side of the head of the Priestly Glacier. The party would then work generally south along the edge of the Polar Plateau and descend onto the Nansen Ice Sheet in the vicinity of the Larsen Glacier. Pick up was set down for early February at Inexpressible island; depending on the progress made by the northern ans southern parties| it was decided during January which of teh two parties would visit the lower Campbell Glacier region.