146 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



Quite aside from the animal life, the strange vegeta- 

 tion of the mountain heights near timber-line is enough 

 to tempt any one upward. It is far more interesting, 

 yard for yard, than anything one finds in the tropics. 

 On a high mountain, at timber-line one finds only the 

 bravest and the hardiest of Nature's trees, and flowers, 

 and animals. Wherever vegetation climbs up in genu- 

 ine luxuriance to six thousand feet, and is suddenly and 

 rudely stopped short at seven thousand feet, the finish is 

 as keenly interesting as finishes generally are. It is good 

 to climb up through a living exposition of the survival 

 of the fittest, both in plant life and animal life. 



Two days after our goat-hunt on Phillips Peak, an 

 incident occurred which caused our little party to scat- 

 ter, for two days. Just before sunset, we saw far aloft, 

 on the sky-line of the mountain range that ran along 

 the eastern side of Avalanche Creek, a band of twelve 

 mountain sheep, all rams. Naturally this exhibit caused 

 quite a sensation in camp, and eventually it produced 

 several important results. Mr. Phillips wished to kill 

 a big ram for the Carnegie Museum, but having had 

 my chance at sheep, in Wyoming, I had vowed to hunt 

 sheep no more. 



Accordingly, on the following morning, Mr. Phil- 

 lips and the Norboes took packs on their backs, with 

 three days' rations, and departed on a hunt for the rams 

 of the previous day. Charlie Smith went off on a long 

 tramp to look for grizzly-bear signs, for my special bene- 

 fit. Instead of going with him as usual, on that day I 



