AN EXPLOKATION TO MOUNT McKINLEY. 413 



chance for life. Fortunately, however, the Kodiak grizzly, though 

 larger, is not so ferocious as his Rocky Mountain brother, and Fred 

 made his escape, though the animal approached within a few feet of 

 him. 



The good traveling came to an end all too soon, and we plunged into 

 the thick growth of timber covering the floor of the Yentna Valley. 

 When, on June 18, we reached the banks of that river, the turbulent, 

 silt-bearing waters, coursing through a score of channels, did not 

 look inviting, and we had grave doubts whether a crossing could be 

 made. It must be attempted, howevei", as it would save a week's 

 time. Mounted on two of the stronger horses, from which the saddles 

 had been stripped, Fred and I managed to ford some of the streams, 

 though the horses barely kept their footing in the rushing waters, 

 which reached their shoulders. There still remained several of the 

 widest channels. The unwilling animals were urged into the first 

 of these, and in a moment were swept off their feet b}^ the muddy 

 torrent, which for an instant engulfed both riders and horses and bore 

 them downstream at a terrific rate. By an almost instinctive move- 

 ment, Ave threw ourselves from the struggling brutes, seized them by 

 their manes, and swam alongside, thus at length guiding them back 

 to the bank. We dragged ourselves out, both we and the horses 

 shivering from our ducking in the icy waters. The plunge was but 

 one of many similar incidents of the journey before us, but it was 

 more significant, in that it showed the impossibilit}^ of making a cross- 

 ing at this point without taking serious risks. 



So, perforce, we headed downstream and spent weary days cutting 

 a trail through the dense growth on the river bank; until on the fourth 

 day a welcome rifle shot told us that we were near the rendezvous 

 with the men and boat. With the aid of these we at last succeeded 

 in crossing the river. As it was, the passage occupied an entire da}', 

 and was not without its dangers to the horses, who had to be towed 

 across behind the boat, in imminent risk of drowning in the 8-mile 

 current, which at times carried them under water. (See plate v.) 



After agreeing upon a third rendezvous, the land party continued 

 its trail chopping and corduroy building. This was the most disheart- 

 ening part of the whole journey. The middays were sultry, and the 

 endless chopping, harassed as we were l)y clouds of mosquitoes, was 

 almost maddening. With our best eft'orts we could make barelv 3 

 miles a day, and though nearly a third of our provisions were con- 

 sumed, we had completed hardly an eighth of our 80()-mile journey. 

 Day after day we toiled on, fighting mosquitoes, dragging horses out of 

 nuid holes, cutting our way through dense growths of alder. Occa- 

 sionally we would determine our position ])v compass sights from the 

 top of some tall cottonwood, and then we Avould la}' a new course. At 

 last, having reason to believe ourselves near the Keechatna, we halted 

 for a day to reconnoitcr and rest the tired horses and men. 



