SHASTA RAMBLES 



as destitute of soil as a glacial pavement. The 

 surface, though smooth in a general way as 

 seen from a distance, is dotted with hillocks 

 and rough crater-like pits, and traversed by a 

 network of yawning fissures, forming a com- 

 bination of topographical conditions of very 

 striking character. The way lies by Mount 

 Bremer, over stretches of gray sage plains, 

 iaterrupted by rough lava-slopes timbered with 

 juniper and yellow pine, and with here and 

 there a green meadow and a stream. 



This is a famous game region, and you will 

 be likely to meet small bands of antelope, 

 mule deer, and wild sheep. Mount Bremer is 

 the most noted stronghold of the sheep in the 

 whole Shasta region. Large flocks dwell here 

 from year to year, winter and summer, de- 

 scending occasionally into the adjacent sage 

 plains and lava-beds to feed, but ever ready 

 to take refuge in the jagged crags of their 

 mountain at every alarm. While traveling 

 with a company of hunters I saw about fifty 

 in one flock. 



The Van Bremer brothers, after whom the 

 mountain is named, told me that they once 

 climbed the mountain with their rifles and 

 hounds on a grand hunt; but, after keeping 

 up the pursuit for a week, their boots and 

 clothing gave way, and the hoimds were lamed 



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