A MOUNTAIN SHEKP ON THE RIM OF THE CANYON : PHOTOGRAPHED BY A TOURIST 



This photograph prompted us to follow his trail over a series of ladders known as the 



Humming-bird trail (see page 126) 



section of the cliff was separated from 

 the main wall and leaned forward, hang- 

 ing over the camp like the sword of 

 Damocles, ready to fall any minute, so it 

 seemed to us — a most uncomfortable 

 ]:)lace to camp. 



The miners had tunneled into the walls 

 in two or three places on both sides of 

 the river, none of the tunnels being more 

 than a hundred feet in length. A stream 

 issued from each of the tunnels stained 

 with copper and smelling strongly of sul- 

 phur. These claims are still held, and a 

 certain amount of development work is 

 (lone each year by two or three parties 

 from the Utah side. 



A TEST OE NERVE 



From this point on to the mouth of the 

 Little Colorado we slowly worked our 

 way over one of the worst trails we have 

 ever seen. The walls rose sheer above 

 the river for 300 or 400 feet, then broke 

 for a short distance into a steep slope, 

 boulder strewn and cut up with many 

 gullies. Above this slope was another 

 perpendicular wall (see picture, page 

 121); 400 feet below roared the river. 

 In two places large boulders all but 



blocked the trail. The burro, with her 

 light but bulky pack, was very much 

 frightened, and instead of swinging clear 

 of the rocks, as they usually do, would 

 shun the edge and catch the pack on the 

 rocks. Twice she would certainly have 

 gone over but for our assistance. One 

 of us would lead, holding the rope close 

 to the burro's head, while the other 

 sta\'ed behind hanging onto the pack 

 harness, now shoving out a little to keep 

 the ]:)ack clear of the obstruction, now 

 pulling with all our might when it would 

 catch and the burro would strug'gle to 

 free herself. 



All this time we were carrying our 

 own loads except when we laid them 

 aside to eng'age in this more difficult 

 task. It was hot down in that narrow 

 gorge, and while the river was just below 

 us, it was out of reach, and we felt the 

 need of water greatly before we got off 

 the ledge of rock. The wall towered 

 above us to a height of 3,200 feet ; Chuar 

 Butte, directly across the river, raised its 

 level top to an equal height, so that we 

 were in a canyon of that depth, and less 

 than half a mile wide at the top. It was 

 late in the afternoon when we dropped 



1^5 



