SNOW-BLINDED ON THE SUMMIT u 



running beneath the ice and snow. I recovered 

 my staff and resumed the journey. 



In time the canon widened a little and travelling 

 became easier. I had just paused to give a shout 

 when a rumbling and crashing high up the right- 

 hand slope told me that a snowslide was plunging 

 down. Whether it would land in the canon before 

 me or behind me or on top of me could not be 

 guessed. The awful smashing and crashing and 

 roar proclaimed it of enormous size and indicated 

 that trees and rocky debris were being swept on- 

 ward with it. During the few seconds that I 

 stood awaiting my fate, thought after thought 

 raced through my brain as I recorded the ever- 

 varying crashes and thunders of the wild, irresisti- 

 ble slide. 



With terrific crash and roar the snowslide swept 

 into the canon a short distance in front of me. I 

 was knocked down by the outrush or concussion 

 of air and for several minutes was nearly smothered 

 with the whirling, settling snow-dust and rock 

 powder which fell thickly all around. The air 

 cleared and I went on. 



I had gone only a dozen steps when I came upon 

 the enormous wreckage brought down by the slide. 

 Snow, earthy matter, rocks, and splintered trees 

 were flung in fierce confusion together. For three 

 or four hundred feet this accumulation filled the 

 canon from wall to wall and was fifty or sixty feel 

 high. The slide wreckage smashed the ice and 



