After a month-long halt in the Grytviken whaling station, Endurance departed for the Antarctic on 5 December.[1] Two days later, Shackleton was disconcerted to encounter pack ice as far north as 57° 26′S,[37] forcing the ship to manoeuvre. During the following days there were more tussles with the pack, which, on 14 December, was thick enough to halt the ship for 24 hours. Three days later, the ship was stopped again.