Outfit required for Mounting Climbing. 165 



gunny-sacks. Rectangular cans holding about a gallon each, 

 with small screw-tops, were found convenient for carrying coal 

 oil. The exjDerience of Arctic explorers indicates that alcohol 

 would perhaps be better than coal oil to use in snow-camjDS. 



Among the most important articles to be provided are strong 

 shoes or boots ; of these each man should have at least two pairs.' 

 Strong hip-boots, with lacings over the instep, are exceedingly 

 serviceable. When sleeping on the ice the boot-legs may be 

 spread beneath one's blankets and the feet used as a j)illow. The 

 long legs are serviceable alike in the thick brush on the shore 

 and in the deep snow on the high mountains. With their jDro- 

 tection, many streams can be waded without getting wet. Leather,- 

 waxed ends, awls, etc., for repairing boots, and tallow mixed with 

 bees-wax for greasing them, should be taken and distributed in 

 part through the cans of rations. Heavy woolen socks are in- 

 dispensable, and an effort should be made to have a dry pair 

 always at hand. This may be arranged, even under the most 

 unfavorable conditions, by drying a pair as thoroughly as is con- 

 venient and carrying them in the bosom of one's shirt. 



Long alpenstocks are always necessary. My own choice is a 

 stiff one of hickory, about six feet long and an inch and a cpiarter 

 in diameter, provided with a spike and hook at one end and a 

 chisel about tAvo inches broad at the other. Ice axes are desir- 

 able while climbing in the high mountains, but even more ser- 

 viceable are light axes of the usual i^attern, but with handles 

 about fourteen inches long ; these sujDplement the alpenstock, 

 and when not actually in use are carried in the packs. 



Each man should be provided with a water-tight match-box, 

 and should have, besides, a bundle of wax matches wraj)ped in 

 oil-cloth and sewed in the collar of his shirt, to be held as a last 

 reserve. Each man should also have a small water-tight bag in 

 which to carry salt enough to last a week or ten days, in case he 

 has to live by hunting or fishing. A heavy hunting knife is very 

 convenient, and can be used not only in cutting trails through 

 thick brush, but in cases of necessity is serviceable in making 

 steps in ice. Heavy woolen clothing is j^referable to furs. Sleep- 

 ing bags were not used during our expedition, but are highly 

 recommended by others. For protection at night, a thick woolen 

 blanket with a light canvas cover and a sheet of light rubber 

 cloth to protect it are all that is necessary. Our tents were of 

 cotton drilling, seven feet square and about six feet high, and 



23— Nat. Geog. Mag., vol. Ill, 1891. 



