A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER 313 



was from sliding avalanches which compelled 

 the little party to abandon their tents and dig 

 out caves in the snow on the steep slopes for 

 safety. A continuous snow storm raged for 

 thirteen days, which left no means of drying 

 anything, and compelled them to sleep in their 

 wet garments. At last the ascent was under- 

 taken. It took a week, and had to be made 

 entirely at night because of the soft snow and 

 the now constant avalanches, three of whrch 

 all but caught the party. With only two men 

 left, and with deep, soft snow and no freezing 

 at night, only food and bedding could be taken, 

 so they had to leave tents and stores behind. 

 It was necessary to depend on candles to melt 

 water for making soups. The temperature 

 ranged from 40 degrees above to 6 degrees 

 below zero. 



Miss Keen's was the first mountain climb- 

 ing expedition in this country to use dogs and 

 snow caves, the first to be led by a woman, and 

 the first to succeed without Swiss guides. 



William Lang, a Canadian, is the man who 

 turned back when within 500 feet of the peak. 

 The summit was reached on May nineteenth, 

 and its height was taken as 16,140 feet. 



I verily believe that there is not another 

 woman in the "wide, wide, world" that could 



