In the Sierra 



wonderfully distinct and substantial looking, 

 I often stepped high in crossing them, taking 

 them for black charred logs. 



August 24. Another charming day, 

 warm and calm soon after sunrise, clouds 

 only about .01, faint, silky cirrus wisps, 

 scarcely visible. Slight frost, Indian summer- 

 ish, the mountains growing softer in out- 

 line and dreamy looking, their rough angles 

 melted off, apparently. Sky at evening with 

 fine, dark, subdued purple, almost like the 

 evening purple of the San Joaquin plains 

 in settled weather. The moon is now gazing 

 over the summit of Dana. Glorious exhil- 

 arating air. I wonder if in all the world 

 there is another mountain range of equal 

 height blessed with weather so fine, and so 

 openly kind and hospitable and approach- 

 able. 



August 25. Cool as usual in the morn- 

 ing, quickly changing to the ordinary serene 

 generous warmth and brightness. Toward 

 evening the west wind was cool and sent us 



