THE END OF THE TRAIL 289 



The expected snow began on the morning of 

 my third day in the park and fell pretty steadily 

 for a day and a half. Hayden Valley was very 

 bleak, with snow blowing thick in my face and 

 the wind cold and penetrating. Once or twice 

 I met mounted troopers and north of the Yel- 

 lowstone Canon several freighters with wagon 

 loads of material for the new hotel at the canon. 

 Otherwise the park was quite deserted save by 

 the regular details of soldiers at the stations, 

 where I halted to register, and some emi- 

 grants bound for Alberta, who were encamped 

 for the night at Norris Basin, when I passed 

 there. 



Few animals were to be seen. Once I saw a 

 bear, once a fearless coyote trotted for a mile 

 or two in front of me, innumerable waterfowl 

 lined the Yellowstone River, and beyond Nor- 

 ris Basin I encountered several deer. Between 

 Norris Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs I met 

 government scouts McBride and Brown, and 

 we dismounted to light a fire and discuss for 

 an hour the game situation, and particularly 

 the condition of park game. 



Once I halted to extinguish a blaze, started 

 doubtless by transportation company teamsters 

 who had stopped for luncheon and had failed 

 to scatter their fire. The wind had carried the 



