"HIKING" OVER THE MOUNTAINS 



By JAMES E. SAWYERS 





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HEN the busi- 

 ness man, goad- 

 ed and worn by 

 'carking cares, is 

 seeking restora- 

 tion to health 

 and renewed 

 courage, he 

 should go to 

 the mountains, 

 carrying his few necessaries on his 

 back. 



Such a trip suggests hard work, 

 climbing over steep hills, cooking for 

 self, and freedom from the bustling 

 cares of the swirling commercial 

 world. Did you ever take such a trip? 

 If not, then try it. 



It requires of a fellow a proper adap- 

 tability to the conditions incident to 

 such a journey. To enjoy such an out- 

 ing one should go into a wild country, 

 and as far away from the influences of 

 man as possible. If you do not enjoy 

 scrambling over rugged mountain di- 

 vides, or are fearful lest you may get 

 lost, select a good trout stream where 

 you may fish, and then move camp at 

 leisure time. 



It has been my good fortune to 

 "rough it" in a country where both 

 angling and hunting could be enjoyed; 

 and one should avoid taking more 

 game than necessary for actual use. 



The equipment should be as light 

 and simple as possible, and consistent 

 with the needs of the outing, yet, only 

 containing the absolute necessaries. I 

 have made trips of a week's duration 

 on several occasions during each of the 

 seasons, viz. : summer, fall, winter and 

 spring, and always carried the follow- 

 ing provisions in my pack sack : One 

 blanket^ rice or beans, flour, bacon, cof- 

 fee, salt, fry-pan, stew-kettle and 

 clothing, amounting in all to about 



twenty-five pounds; also kodak, fishing 

 outfit and rifle. Usually one or more 

 friends accompanied me, and we al- 

 ways went into the remote regions of 

 Oregon's many famous mountains. 



In beginning such a journey great 

 care should be taken not to overwork 

 yourself the first day ; in fact, over ex- 

 ertion at any time is apt to impare the 

 pleasure of the outing. 



Last summer my brother Gard and I 

 "hiked" over the Umpqua Mountains, 

 carrying our provisions in a pack sack, 

 and thus enjoyed a week's vacation. 

 We took two good "varmint" dogs to 

 aid us in trailing the bears, cougars 

 and lynxs, said to be plentiful. 



That summer morning as we looked 

 from the mountain crown down at the 

 homestead of our friend, who lives on 

 the farthest outskirts of civilization, the 

 balsamic air and keen anticipation 

 made our blood flow with renewed 

 vigor; and the realization of a camp in 

 the wilderness (we knew not where) 

 within a few hours' journey. 



And we traveled in an unfamiliar 

 country with high mountains towering 

 above us, where the long dividing 

 ridges wound snake-like away to places 

 unknown to us, trusting to the water- 

 sheds to guide us back to the habita- 

 tion of man. The bewitching cadences 

 of the mountain voices coming front 

 the silent forest thrilled the naked soul 

 and brought forgetfulness of the rush 

 for gain. Surely, we were at the shrine 

 of Nature. Ah, the balmy air, how it 

 inspires the soul and infuses new ac- 

 tion into the body ! And from the sun- 

 lit summits the dark green firs that clad 

 all the canons and hills from base to 

 top reflected the subtle hues of the em- 

 erald and blue of the fragrant forest. 



We wandered slowly along the moun- 

 tain side, gradually working upward, 



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