1 84 The Elk of the Pacific Coast 



in the lower part of the Coast Range of Oregon, 

 but you will not find it so much more easy in 

 those portions of the Cascades where the elk 

 yet lingers. The greater part of this range is 

 more easy to penetrate with a horse on account 

 of the greater abundance of grass. Over much 

 of it one can also go with a wagon. There you 

 may find the deer in all the abundance you wish ; 

 but to find the greater elk you must go to where 

 the streams that drain the mighty western face 

 break in deep gorges from the upper slopes. 

 There again you will find the land rising on 

 end to meet you, the forest shaggy with bristling 

 trees whose tops interlace into eternal shade, 

 torn and ragged hillsides where the fallen logs 

 almost slide at your touch, jagged rocks that 

 topple over depths so blue that you dare not 

 step on them to look for your game. Many a 

 band of elk yet lingers around the head waters 

 of these streams, and with the increasing vege- 

 tation, caused by stopping the fires in the forest 

 reserve, they will all increase as the years go on 

 and interest in game protection proceeds at its 

 present pace. But even if you should fail to see 

 one, you will be well rewarded, for only on this 

 northern coast can Nature duplicate such charms 

 as she here spreads along the path of him who 

 loves her for her own sake instead of a pair of 

 horns to fasten on a wall. 



