The Mountaineer 19 
THE OLYMPIC OUTING—1913 
GERTRUDE STREATOR 
ington, on the steamer Sol Due, at two o’clock, Saturday 
morning, August 2, 1913. 
Friday evening the dock was the scene of great excitement as 
one Mountaineer after another hurried up to the group that was 
awaiting the first signal of the whistle—the signal to go on board 
the boat. There were the merry hum of voices, the click of alpen- 
stocks or ice axes, and many questions. “How much does your dunnage 
weigh?” was the eternal question and likewise the accepted mode 
of salutation. The signal was sounded; the many friends who had 
assembled to wish us God-speed turned away; all retired except the 
committee who awaited the coming of belated members. 
Port Angeles, where breakfast was served, was reached at about 
seven o'clock, August second. Through the kindness of the Com- 
mercial Club of Port Angeles, automobiles were provided to convey the 
Mountaineers ten miles along the country road to the bridge which 
spans the Elwha River. At this point an excellent trail begins which 
follows the east bank of the river, leading through beautiful forests 
up to the Elwha Basin. After a tramp of ten miles along this trail, 
the happy Mountaineers established their first camp at Humes’ Ranch. 
Our first camp-fire was opened by the president, Professor Meany, 
reading Chapman’s beautiful poem— 
OUT WHERE THE WEST BEGINS 
“Out where the skies are a trifle bluer, 
Out where the friendship’s a little truer, 
That’s where the West begins; 
Where there’s life in every breeze that’s blowing, 
Where there’s laughter in every streamlet flowing, 
Where there’s more of reaping and less of sowing— 
There’s where the West begins.” 
And well may the Olympics be called “Out where the West begins.” 
The camp-fire brings the Mountaineers together and unites them 
into one great circle, so after the first evening spent around the 
fire singing, listening to the history of the great country we were 
entering, then hearing the announcements for the next day, and at 
last to hear, “Rising call at five forty-five. Breakfast at six-thirty,” 
