“Shackleton was prepared for the worst eventuality of having to stop on the Pack for another winter… On the other hand if by the end of January we have, as is probably, drifted near enough to Graham’s Land, or the S. Orkneys, we may make one or the other by aid of the leads we hope to have come to… The third alternative is a risky but a necessary dash to the West at the end of Jan, abandoning boats but sledging the small punt the Carpenter has made. This we would only do if the drift became arrested … so … that we were fairly certain we would otherwise have to spend the winter on the floe running the risk of it opening and crushing the boats some dark winters midnight.”

— Frank Worsley