Why is Jason feeling pressured, what are some people going to do about the pressure and how does Jason feel about doing that?

Winter is rapidly setting in and Hawthorn begins to feel even more pressure to push on toward Dawson City. Some of the people have resigned themselves to waiting out the winter and going to Dawson City in the spring. Hawthorn cannot imagine waiting eight months and wants to figure out a way to make it before the ice comes.