A Plan
Mark plans to go to a nearby village and recruit some people to get him through the ice wall. Though he could tell his colleagues, they might want to take credit or be a huge part of it, and this is his discovery!
Journey Back
The journey to the village was difficult and long. The wind picked up, with snow filling the air. In fact, Mark could develop hypothermia, but he was focused more on remembering the way back to the cave. Nothing else mattered at that point.