SHASTA RAMBLES 



Sheep Rock, Elk Flat, Huckleberry Valley, 

 Squaw Valley, following for a considerable 

 portion of the way the old Emigrant Road, 

 which lies along the east disk of the mountain, 

 and is deeply worn by the wagons of the early 

 gold-seekers, many of whom chose this north- 

 em route as perhaps being safer and easier, 

 the pass here being only about six thousand 

 feet above sea-level. But it is far better to go 

 afoot. Then you are free to make wide waver- 

 ings and zigzags away from the roads to visit 

 the great fountain streams of the rivers, the 

 glaciers also, and the wildest retreats in the 

 primeval forests, where the best plants and 

 animals dwell, and where many a flower-bell 

 will ring against your knees, and friendly trees 

 will reach out their fronded branches and 

 touch you as you pass. One blanket will be 

 enough to carry, or you may forego the pleas- 

 ure and burden altogether, as wood for fires is 

 everywhere abundant. Only a Uttle food will 

 be required. Berries and plums abound in 

 season, and quail and grouse and deer — the 

 magnificent shaggy mule deer as well as the 

 common species. 



As you sweep around so grand a center, the 

 mountain itself seems to turn, displaying its 

 riches like the revolving pyramids in jewelers' 

 windows. One glacier after another comes into 



83 



