300 Sport and Life. 



of vast extent, burn in some exceptionally dry years literally from 

 spring to autumn. Thus, in 1883, the fires north of Kootenay 

 Lake were burning for more than four months to my certain 

 knowledge. The bare and blackened trunks of the trees, the sap 

 of life burnt out of them, frequently remain standing for months, 

 until an unusually severe gale lays them low by the hundred at a 

 time. If the traveller happens to be caught in one of these burnt 

 forests by a gale or thunderstorm, some lively, and at the same 

 time circumspect, travelling had better occur, or there will be a 

 funeral without a coffin, hearse, or parson. 



Timber line in the Selkirks ranges occurs about 6oooft., and 

 the valleys from which the mountains rise and by which one has 

 approached their base, are usually only from iSooft. to 25ooft. in 

 altitude, so that one has almost invariably about 3oooft. of very 

 steep and densely wooded slopes to overcome ere one reaches the 

 clear rocks above; and one can speak of luck if, in ascending a 

 slope, one does not strike either the bed of an old avalanche 

 perfectly impassable, owing to the denseness of the young 

 vegetation on it, or has to climb for half a day over, under, 

 along, and across prostrate trunks of huge trees piled up in the 

 most puzzling manner, obliging one often to walk along a slippery 

 trunk 1 2ft. or i4ft. above the ground, or crawl for many yards under 

 a network of fallen monarchs, pushing one's sleeping bag, rifle, and 

 grub sack in front of one, as there is no space to do otherwise. 

 Once the rocks are reached the conditions become more favourable,, 

 in fact, one is in the hunting country as soon as one is out of 

 timber line ; and the nearest ridge, often only 5ooft. higher, and 

 easily attainable by a steep rock climb, will almost certainly reveal 

 the presence of "goat." "Goat" have a predilection for 

 promenading along impossible looking knife -back ridges, from 

 whence both slopes can be seen. They are anything but shy 

 animals, their innate sense of curiosity being remarkably great. 

 They are easier prey to kill than the bighorn, when once the 

 sportsman has managed to reach their home. Bighorn, as 

 already stated, do not inhabit the Selkirks, but only the Rockies 



