They found the Alaskan mainland by the end of August and began the 1500 mile return home. However, winter storms forced them to beach the St. Peter on Bering Island in November.
They ate plants & hunted a bit, but Bering and 31 other crew members died of scurvy. The next spring they constructed a flimsy vessle from parts of the wrecked St. Peter and sailed back to Russia.
Thus, young Steller stumbled upon a way to prevent scurvy. He died 4 years later - but we remember his blue jay.