172 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



early Jurassic period, before the mountain was fully 

 sculptured. Then the mariners of that age (if there were 

 any) might have sailed upon the waters of the Pacific 

 close to the base of the mountain, and, there landing, have 

 climbed up its then gently sloping sides. The mountain 

 is very different from most peaks of the Sierra. It stands 

 absolutely remote and alone. The nearest peaks are 

 those of the inner semicircle of which I have spoken, but 

 they do not reach much over 12,500 feet, and from our 

 position appeared low. The nearest peak which ap- 

 proached us in height was Mt. Darwin, eight miles distant. 



After an hour spent in viewing the landscape, we 

 signaled to the others, and finally all met at the gorge 

 where we had parted company. The process of descent 

 to this gorge was about the reverse of our upward trip. 

 The rope was in constant use, and we both heaved a sigh 

 of relief when we were safely down. From there on 

 the descent was practically over the same course by which 

 we had ascended. It was much easier, for in many 

 places where in ascending we had climbed on hands and 

 knees now we could make a toboggan-slide of fifteen or 

 twenty feet over a smooth surface or down a gravel 

 chute. It was somewhat hard on portions of our clothing, 

 but we " got there," and that, for the time being, was 

 the main object. The rope was again used several times. 

 The rocks in the steep chute lay so loosely that great 

 care had to be used lest we should start an avalanche. 

 Whitney and Noble went on ahead down one of these 

 chimneys, and were several hundred feet .below us. My 

 brother and I moved with the utmost care to avoid setting 

 any stones in motion, but suddenly a number started; 

 these started others, and in a moment a deluge of them 



