CHAPTER IV 

 SAWYER'S PEAK 



WE moved on the following day to the top of the 

 range. Our first camp was on the east side of Saw- 

 yer's Peak, a well-known local landmark. And 

 whereas at Kingston the elevation was 6,300, at camp 

 we made the altitude just 9,300 feet above sea level. 



While the baseline was being brought up a couple 

 of days were devoted to " sample plots. " An area 

 (usually ten chains square) was measured off on 

 the ground with chain and compass, the diameter of 

 each tree thereon calipered, the timber in feet board 

 measure estimated from approved volume tables, the 

 reproduction tallied, and notes on miscellaneous 

 silvical data of interest recorded. 



These sample acres, a welcome respite to the 

 cruiser, were afterward taken at intervals through- 

 out the season. The work was valuable not only for 

 the collection of silvical facts, but for the purpose of 

 checking the figures of individual estimators. By 

 comparing the appearance of the stand on such plots 

 with that found on his run a cruiser possessed a 

 standard for sizing up timber which tended to 

 greatly increase the accuracy of his estimates. Es- 

 pecially was this experience worth while to those of 



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