 On 27 October 1912 , Mawson outlined the summer sledging program . Mertz and Ninnis were assigned to Mawson 's own party , which would use the dogs to push quickly to the east of the expedition 's base in Commonwealth Bay , towards Victoria Land . The party departed Cape Denison on 10 November , heading first to Aladdin 's Cave , and from there south @-@ east towards a massive glacier encountered by Aurora on the outward journey . Mertz skied ahead , scouting and providing a lead for the dogs to chase ; Mawson and Ninnis manoeuvred the two dog teams behind . They reached the glacier on 19 November ; negotiating fields of crevasses , it was crossed in five days . The party made quick progress once on the plateau again , but they soon encountered another glacier , far larger than the first . Despite strong winds and poor light , Mertz , Mawson and Ninnis reached the far side on 30 November . 
