20 WAITING IN THE WILDERNESS 



the Oligocene Epoch, three or four million years 

 ago. 



High up on the side of the canon wall I looked 

 down into the tops of the tall spruces growing 

 near the river. The water was foaming and 

 roaring through bouldery rapids. Numbers of 

 ravens flew about or sat black and solemn on 

 rock points at the top of the canon. 



In places the ashen rock was crumbly, the 

 canon ledges narrow, and parts of the wall 

 nearly perpendicular. My previous Rocky Moun- 

 tain climbing experiences were now useful. Lit- 

 tle by little I explored half a mile along the 

 face of the wall. This brought me close to the 

 skyline. The wall above me was perpendicular 

 and if I could climb upon that yellowish out- 

 jutting rock I could then reach the rim and pull 

 myself to the top. As the out-jutting rock 

 was large enough to support an elephant, and 

 as it showed no crack, I climbed carefully upon 

 it. But as I straightened up and was balancing 

 on it the thing broke off. 



My pick was fastened on my back but it 

 loosened, dropped, and glanced from a rock far 

 out into space. I saw it as I fell away. But I 

 struck several feet below in a collection of vol- 

 canic ashes and gravel, then rolled and slid 

 thirty feet farther before I could stop. Quarts 

 of sand and ashes had gone down my open shirt 



