r.ri,i,i:ri.\ no :v.', o 



the teiilative " Mt. Oberlin" invited coiuiiiest in the near dis- 

 tance. Our hearts swelled in eager anticipation of the expected 

 triumphs of the next fe\v weeks. Alas 1 the golden chalice 

 was to be dashed from the hand ere long. Returning the next 

 day from the ascent of vSplinter Peak we found the l)est part of 

 our equipment in ashes. A deep-seated punk log had trans- 

 mitted our .smouldering camp fire and spread it in a devastating 

 circle thru the peaty heather beds. Mr. Jones was the heavy 

 lo.ser. Specimens, photographic plates, notes, blankets, pocket 

 book, return railroad ticket, gone — ugh ! We had stood that 

 day on one of nature's pinnacles. A slight misstep on the 

 ridge of vSplinter Peak, a pitching forward, would have been — 

 no, fiof f'/fsfaui death. One could have leaped r/f/icr 7i'ay and 

 not have struck short of 12") feel. But we were down now — 

 way down ! 



Our losses compelled an instant relinquishment of the 

 cherished plans. Dropping, part way down the canon that 

 evening we made the Field's the next day, where we secured 

 supplies enough to enable us to undertake the journey, on foot, 

 from Stehekin, via Cascade pass, to the Skagit River. On the 

 vSkagit we could count on finding other conveyance. 



The return journey over the mountains was everywhere 

 brightened by our study of the birds and, as may be noted 

 elsewhere, some handsome horizons were taken. The scenic 

 interest, however, so often overshadowed the ornithological 

 that I fear the readers of The Bulletix will take me to task 

 and remind me that I am supposed to be talking about l^rds. 

 vStill, if I succeed in dragging a bird or two in, I may perhaps 

 be pardoned for .speaking of the view from the divide. Leav- 

 ing my knapsack beside the iron post which marks the summit 

 of the Stehekin-Hamilton horse trail, I climbed up a neigbor- 

 ing spur, centrally located, for a commanding view. The 

 mountains visible from this spot are certainly grander than 

 anything visible from any American railroad ; and I have been 

 on them all so far as mountains are concerned. Ivleven well 

 defined glaciers were visible from this point : but the\- only 

 held the flanks of the mountains; the unfettered, unconquera- 

 ble peaks rose thousands of feet above. The incessant thun- 

 der of the avalanche was only fit praise for the majesty of 

 these untamed monarchs. A mile or so down the trail on 



