172 SIBERIA 



having exceptionally large horns. It is stated in the 

 Great Siberian Railway Guide that the Altai is as 

 rich in animals to-day as Europe was at the time 

 of Julius Caesar, 2,000 years ago. These mountain 

 .slopes are the very best places in the Altai, so as 

 the information was calculated to lend attractions 

 to even the most ordinary mountain, we kept a bright 

 look-out. As we neared the summit the wind 

 changed to the north, and the temperature dropped 

 very suddenly. I had some good ski practice pn 

 the slopes of the mountain where the snow was deep, 

 and on more than one occasion descended into ^ 

 basin-like dip head foremost into the snow. After 

 a few tumbles I became fairly proficient— allowing 

 for occasions when one leg would persist in going 

 in the wrong direction, compelling me to lie down 

 in very inconvenient positions. 



When we gained the summit of the Saptam, 

 9,750 feet above the sea-level, we were in a 

 splendid position to see the mountains. I took a few 

 photographs, and then, leaving my friend and the 

 hunter, advanced towards several higher peaks of 

 the Saptam ridge. 



I enjoyed six hours of very interesting and dififi- 

 cult climbing, which was rendered the more difficult 

 from' the fact that, thinking only of ski pra.ctice, 

 I had left my nailed boots behind. The most difficult 

 bit of climbing was on the third pinnacle, where the 

 rocks of the summit were split in two and it was 

 necessary to climb about 30 feet down a wall and 

 then drop to the rocks opposite across a ravine, about 

 4 feet wide and 80 feet deep. One of the highest 

 peaks looked as though it had been split in two, 

 forming a wall of rock about 400 feet and as smooth 

 as glass. The rock of these summits was v^ry soft 

 — a kind of shale — and easily broken with the fingers. 

 On the north side the slopes were all of loose rock, 



