CAMP FIRES IN THE YUKON 167 



journey in, and which promised increased difficulties 

 for recrossing by reason of the snow covering. 



As the distance across the Burwash Mountains 

 was about thirty-five miles and there was no horse 

 feed on the way, we decided to camp for the day 

 where we were at Ed. Benson's tent, giving the 

 horses a good rest and enabling them to feed well 

 upon the pea vine in the valley. This also gave us 

 a chance to bake bread and prepare for an early start 

 in the morning, with the hope that our rested horses 

 could make the long drive across the Burwash range 

 in a single day. 



September 15. As we tumbled out of the tent at 

 4 A.M. the sky had cleared, but the air was bitter 

 cold and the small streams and ponds frozen tight. 

 The horses had evidently not strayed during the 

 night, but had been devoting their time to the con- 

 sumption of pea vine, so they were rested and fit for 

 the long drive before them. Five o'clock found us 

 all packed and on the trail leading up the timber 

 slopes covered with eight inches of snow, and after 

 two hours' climbing and frequent resting we came 

 out above timber line to the slopes of the Burwash. 

 Our crossing had been difficult enough on our way 

 in, but the snow made our continued progress doubly 

 difficult. The white mantle appeared sufficiently 

 innocent, but always beneath lay the tundra, and be- 

 low the tundra the inevitable bog and water, into 

 which man and beast sank at every step. 



