CAMPING 167 



It always cools off later in the day, and the nights are never 

 too warm. Unless one has the misfortune to strike a 

 prolonged spell of rain, summer camping is delightful ; but 

 the best time of all is during the early autumn, when, if the 

 weather man is kind, life in this wild island is a joy. The 

 brisk, cool days, the chilly evenings which make one 

 appreciate to the fullest the open log fire, and nights so keen 

 that sleeping is an actual pleasure, and one wakes to the 

 delicious freshness of the morning air, fit as a king and ready 

 to do anything. Later on, towards the end of October, the 

 coolness becomes somewhat exaggerated, the condensed 

 milk freezes in the tin, washing is shirked, for it requires 

 courage to break away the ice which lines the bank of the 

 river and indulge freely in water sports. Blankets which, 

 but a few days ago, seemed unduly heavy are now too light, 

 and the chief attraction of the camp centres round the 

 roaring fire, the heart of the camp. Yet this cold is 

 exhilarating to a degree that can scarcely be described in 

 words. Personally, I can say that at no season of the year 

 do I get the same pleasure from camping ; the colder the 

 better, up to a certain point, even if getting out of the warm 

 blankets in the morning does look like a hardship when 

 there is no crackling fire outside or inside the tent as an 

 attraction. That is the only disadvantage of solitary 

 camping in cold weather, for the early autumn morning 

 looks, feels, and sounds cold when the outside of one's 

 blankets is coated with ice crystals, and there comes a sincere 

 longing for the cheerful sound of the fire. These remarks 

 give a hint that warm clothing is required for late camping, 

 and so they should be remembered when I give suggestions 

 on the subject of wearing apparel. 



I take it for granted that any advice I offer is for the man 

 who takes a guide, as I find very few who will go entirely 



