Letters to a Friend 



Chesney and Ina Coolbrith, but alack! I am 

 battered and scarred like a log that has come 

 down the Tuolumne in flood-time, and I am 

 also lame with frost-nipping. Nothing serious, 

 however, and I will be well and better than 

 before in a few days. 



I was caught in a violent snowstorm and 

 held up on the summit of the mountain all 

 night in my shirt-sleeves. The intense cold and 

 the want of food and sleep made the fire of life 

 smoulder and burn low. Nevertheless, in com 

 pany with another strong mountaineer I broke 

 through six miles of frosty snow down into the 

 timber and reached fire and food and sleep and 

 am better than ever with all the valuable ex 

 periences. Altogether I have had a very instruc 

 tive and delightful trip. 



The bryanthus you wanted was snow-buried, 

 and I was too lame to dig it out for you, but 

 I will probably be back ere long. 



I '11 be over in a few days or so. 



179 



