144 Life in the Open 



oak in the lowlands, the mountain-climber comes 

 to spruce, firs, pine, and cedar. Farther on these be- 

 come scarce and far apart, and near the rocky peak 

 the trees creep along the ground, dwarfed, stunted, as 

 though beaten down by a constant and relentless enemy. 

 What the condition is here in winter one can imagine 

 by watching San Antonio, seeing the dense snow clouds, 

 hundreds of feet high, roll up its slope, rising above 

 it like the white vapours of a volcano. 



The mountain lover will find a delightful region 

 about Seven Oaks, the head waters of the Santa Ana 

 River, the point of departure being the city of Red- 

 lands from which a twelve-mile stage ride carries one 

 to the half-way house. From here horses and guide 

 are taken and the ride made up into the valley of the 

 Santa Ana, famed for its trout streams and scenery, 

 almost a mile above the sea. The country is well 

 wooded with pine trees, and in the vicinity are Bear 

 Valley and its well stocked lake, Barton Flats, South 

 Fork, Cienega Seco, and other places of more or less 

 interest. 



The San Bernardino range affords many caftons 

 and mountain retreats attractive to the mountaineer 

 and sportsman, among which is Skyland above San Ber- 

 nardino, five thousand feet above the sea. This country 

 is reached by a good trail or mountain road, once the 

 old Arrowhead toll road from San Bernardino. Here 

 are many cafions Devil, Sandpit, and Dark cafions, 

 Squirrel Inn and Little Bear Valley, and reaching away in 



