In the meantime, "Polaris" had found open water and was searching for a route south. Budington, not eager to spend another winter in the ice, sent Ipirvik north with orders for Tyson and Chester: return to the ship at once. The men were forced to abandon the boats and walk back to "Polaris". Now three of the ship's precious lifeboats were lost, and a fourth—the small scow—would be crushed by ice in July after being carelessly left out overnight. The expedition had failed in its main objective of reaching the North Pole.