~ 
The Mountaineer 65 
take a drink and fill canteens as there is no water farther up 
except at an abandoned prospect hole that we shall soon pass. 
The brown and red rocks and the green moss and other 
plants make the rock wall before and above us appear as 
if painted. We look along the cliff and the opening is noted 
through which we shall follow a rock-slide in our climb to 
the summit. Leaving extra wraps near a large tree we pass 
through a belt of timber and up a rocky slope and _ finally 
emerge from the woods where we can look back above the 
trees at the valley we have recently left. For some distance 
we scramble over huge boulders and fallen trees, and at last 
reach the portal of the canyon from which issues the rock-slide. 
Lookng backward now, he have a fine view of the plain of the 
valley and note the silver threads that are the South, Mid- 
dle and North Forks of the Snoqualmie River. The town of 
North Bend is nearby while Snoqualmie is farther away, al- 
most hidden by trees. Slowly we make our way up along the 
edge of, or over the loose rocks of the rock-slide. 
Each one must be careful not to start rocks, not alone for 
their own safety but so as not to endanger those behind them 
in the line. We proceed slowly with frequent brief rests until 
the noon hour, when a stop is made for lunch at a place where 
we are able to seat ourselyes on the sloping floor of the can- 
yon; on either side the smooth rock walls rise for a hundred 
feet or more. Lunch over, the signal is soon given and we 
resume the climb, up, up, up! Coming to where the canyon 
divides we keep to the left making slow progress as the grade 
is steep. After a time the going is easier as the slope is not 
so steep and the stones quite firmly in position. Ahead 
of us the canyon appears to reach the crest of a ridge and as 
we emerge from it we have a view of the wooded sloping side 
of the mountain opposite to the side we have ascended. But 
we are not at the top and must turn to the right until almost 
about face and follow the ridge that helps to make the right 
wall of the canyon through which we have come to this point. 
The slope is quite steep and our progress is hindered by 
much fallen timber, as well as by bushes and underbrush and 
to add to our discomfort the sun shines hotly and we no longey 
feel the breeze that helped to cool us while in the canyon. 
Rests are very frequent and several find it hard to respon] 
