Sierra Club Bulletin. 



sinks there is a warm and mellow light cast on the whole 

 landscape, and now the furrowed face of Humphreys 

 looked particularly grand. The contrast of the high Hghts 

 and the deep shadows was intense. All along the base 

 of the mountain is a succession of talus slopes extending 

 upward five hundred feet. This is of a light gray color, 

 and is formed by the blocks of granite falling from the 

 cliffs high above and sliding down numerous parallel 

 chutes which lead to the top of the talus. The bottoms 

 or floors of these chutes are worn smooth and almost 

 polished by the streams of rock which have dashed 

 through them. From the mouths of the chutes the talus 

 slopes spread out in perfect cones. Above the talus, and 

 extending all across the face of the mountain, is a 

 chocolate-colored band, perhaps fifteen hundred feet in 

 thickness, its upper edge scalloped and fluted like the 

 teeth of a saw. Above this chocolate-colored band is 

 the cap of the mountain, extending upward a thousand 

 feet higher. This cap is of a terra-cotta color. The 

 combination is peculiar and beautiful, and in the rays of 

 the setting sun it was glorious. 



The sun set behind the " Pinnacles," a ridge between 

 us and the South Fork, and showed a long line of spires, 

 spikes, blocks, and needles, side by side. The great 

 snow-filled cirques across the cafion took on a vivid pink. 

 The little lakes far below us and the tiny streams reflected 

 the blush of sunset. The mountain shadows gradually 

 faded and the twilight softly stole upon us. The moon, 

 then at its first quarter, soon began to show her light. 

 No sooner was the warm sun gone than the chill of 

 evening settled down. Noble and my brother built a 

 stone wall to protect us from any wind which might 



