18 RECREATION 
in between the ridges, sometimes up to your 
waist in snow; but everything comes to an 
end, and there is only a little stretch of ice 
left. Steps are cut in this and a rope passed 
along. That conquered, there are some big 
bowlders to scramble over, and you are at 
the top at last. 
At first you sink down too exhausted to 
do aught but get your breath; then, as your 
heart quiets down, you look about you. 
There is the world at your feet, a world in 
which there is no sign of human habitation. 
For miles in all directions are endless moun- 
tain ranges, great barren mountain peaks 
with their covering of snow. Splendid and 
rugged they stand, and gradually creeps into 
your heart the feeling of your own insignifi- 
cance. You are dumb with this newest 
realization of the splendor and the majesty 
of nature. You breathe deep the rarefied air, 
your heart grows big to meet the bigness all 
about, and you feel close to the infinite. 
Then some one calls out to know the name 
of a distant mountain peak, and the spell 
is broken. 
Now the attention is turned to luncheon, 
of hardtack, raisins, sweet chocolate and 
stuffed dates. Every mouthful is devoured 
and the crumbs sought after, and then goes 
up the cry for water. If you have your can- 
teen full you are lucky, for otherwise the 
best you can do is to put a handful of snow 
in your cup and, holding it in your hands, 
vainly endeavor to generate enough heat 
to turn the snow into water. 
The climb down is an easy one, for 
though you have climbed to a height of over 
13,000 feet, quick time is often made by 
sitting down and sliding. The snow is just 
hard enough to make coasting good. A 
slide of half a mile is only a matter of a few 
minutes. It is a keen delight to go whizzing 
through the air if you can keep your balance 

and don’t go twirling around and down 
backwards or over and over like a barrel. 
Toward evening you come straggling into 
camp one by one, to be greeted and cheered 
by those who stayed behind. 
As dusk creeps on a big camp-fire is built. 
The logs are so big that you can sit on one 
end of them while the other end blazes 
away merrily. Gradually you all gather 
about the fire, forming a large circle. The 
firelight plays on the sunburned, hardy 
faces. There is an expression of content 
and strength there. You feel that each one 
has found his poise and is his own master 
total and absolute, while at the same time 
your common love of nature is drawing you 
all together in a very close bond. Some- 
times you talk and laugh with the “pal” 
next you or gaze silently into the fire. Now 
some one starts a rousing, good song. Talent 
is discovered among your number. Some- 
one recites, someone else tells a funny story, 
until the fire begins to die down. Then you 
start on a hunt for your sleeping-bag. It 
seems very dark after the brilliant, roaring 
fire, and you stumble over bags, bump 
against trees and vainly try to locate the 
tree which marks your special apartment. 
On one occasion I was awakened by having 
a woman walk right on top of me in her 
hunt for her tree. Having found your own 
beloved tree, you crawl into your little bed- 
bag that you have come to like so well, and 
stretch out on the fragrant ground. Over- 
head are the clear sky and the twinkling 
stars. The wind is on your cheek, the 
breath of life in your nostrils; the music of 
the pines is lulling you to sleep, and you 
know that when you wake there will be a 
wondrous sunrise and a glorious day. Can 
any man or woman help being saner, 
healthier and wiser for such an experi- 
ence ? 
