CHARACTERISTICS OF OREGON 



Awful then is the silence that presses down over 

 the mountain forests. All the smaller streams 

 vanish from sight, hushed and obliterated. 

 Young groves of spruce and pine are bowed 

 down as by a gentle hand and put to rest, 

 not again to see the light or move leaf or limb 

 until the grand awakening of the springtime, 

 while the larger animals and most of the birds 

 seek food and shelter in the foothills on the 

 borders of the valleys and plains. 



The lofty volcanic peaks are yet more heav- 

 ily snow-laden. To their upper zones no sum- 

 mer comes. They are white always. From 

 the steep slopes of the summit the new-fallen 

 snow, while yet dry and loose, descends in 

 magnificent avalanches to feed the glaciers, 

 making meanwhile the most glorious manifes- 

 tations of power. Happy is the man who may 

 get near them to see and hear. In some shel- 

 tered camp nest on the edge of the timber- 

 Une one may lie snug and warm, but after the 

 long shuffle on snowshoes we may have to 

 wait more than a month ere the heavens open 

 and the grand show is unveiled. In the mean 

 time, bread may be scarce, unless with care- 

 ful forecast a sufficient supply has been pro- 

 vided and securely placed during the summer. 

 Nevertheless, to be thus deeply snowbound 

 high in the sky is not without generous com- 



287 



