Sierra Club Bulletin. 



cleavage of the rock. To ascend this seemed possible, 

 and I called to the others, " I think we can make it." 

 It appeared to be the only way. Without realizing how 

 precipitous the slope was, I started up it, getting here a 

 toehold and there a fingerhold, all the while pressing my 

 body closely against the cliff. In this way I ascended 

 for thirty feet, and then the wall seemed absolutely 

 smooth and unbroken. I gazed to the right and to the 

 left and up above me. All was apparently as smooth 

 as glass. In an unguarded moment I looked downward 

 to see if I could retrace my steps. My first view was 

 through the cleft where the gorge broke through the 

 crest knife-edge almost directly below me and down and 

 down the cliffs and on to the snow. I looked for the 

 tiny ridges in the wall by which I had ascended, but 

 could not see them, so closely was I pressed against the 

 wall to avoid going over backwards. A cold chill crept 

 down my back. My knees began to shake. The alarm, 

 however, was only momentary. I saw the uselessness of 

 fear, turned my face to the wall, and then looked on 

 things above, determined not again to look downward. 

 When I had fairly gathered myself together, I noticed 

 above me about ten feet, and somewhat to the left, that 

 a couple of blocks of granite had been split out, leaving 

 a little pinnacle. If this place could be reached I would 

 have accomplished something, and would have a vantage- 

 ground from which to look for better things. If not 

 to go up higher, I at least could have the rope thrown 

 to me and, with a hitch about the pinnacle, could descend 

 to the gorge again. Finally, off to the left I found a 

 little foothold which had been overlooked before, and 

 somewhat above it a fingerhold. By the use of these and 



