n a (Yftounfain 



timber-line and timber-line on the Atlantic side. 

 This meant ascending a thousand feet, descend- 

 ing an equal distance, traveling five miles amid 

 bleak, rugged environment. Along the treeless, 

 gradual ascent we started, realizing that the last 

 steep icy climb would be dangerous and defiant. 

 Most of the snow had slid from the steeper 

 places, and much of the remainder had blown 

 away. Over the unsheltered whole the wind 

 was howling. For a time the sun shone dimly 

 through the wind-driven snow-dust that rolled 

 from the top of the range, but it disappeared 

 early behind wild, windswept clouds. 



After gaining a thousand feet of altitude 

 through the friendly forest, we climbed out and 

 up above the trees on a steep slope at timber- 

 line. This place, the farthest up for trees, was 

 a picturesque, desolate place. The dwarfed, 

 gnarled, storm-shaped trees amid enormous 

 snow-drifts told of endless, and at times deadly, 

 struggles of the trees with the elements. Most 

 of the trees were buried, but here and there a 

 leaning or a storm-distorted one bent bravely 

 above the snows. 



