CHAPTER III 



THE SNOW 



THE first snow that whitens the Sierra, usually 

 falls about the end of October or early in No 

 vember, to a depth of a few inches, after months 

 of the most charming Indian summer weather im 

 aginable. But in a few days, this light covering 

 mostly melts from the slopes exposed to the sun 

 and causes but little apprehension on the part of 

 mountaineers who may be lingering among the 

 high peaks at this time. The first general winter 

 storm that yields snow that is to form a lasting 

 portion of the season's supply, seldom breaks on 

 the mountains before the end of November. Then, 

 warned by the sky, cautious mountaineers, together 

 with the wild sheep, deer, and most of the birds 

 and bears, make haste to the lowlands or foot-hills ; 

 and burrowing marmots, mountain beavers, wood- 

 rats, and such people go into winter quarters, some 

 of them not again to see the light of day until the 

 general awakening and resurrection of the spring in 

 June or July. The first heavy fall is usually from 

 about two to four feet in depth. Then, with inter 

 vals of splendid sunshine, storm succeeds stornij 

 heaping snow on snow, until thirty to fifty feet has 

 fallen. But on account of its settling and compact- 



