Notes and Correspondence. 319 



torn from a dry-goods box, was nailed below the bows to serve 

 as a third runner in case of encountering soft snow. 



The legs were wired at the bow a to the end of the cross- 

 pieces to strengthen the frame of the sled. This sled was thus 

 fitted to run astride of any low obstruction, which a toboggan 

 would not do, and at the same time to retain the qualities of a 

 toboggan if extra carrying surface should be required. It would 

 be inadvisable, however, to attempt sledging in very soft snow 

 except in an emergency. 



Two defects were soon developed. The runners were too 

 short and the sled was too narrow. Such sleds should be rebuilt 

 so as to be four inches longer, if possible, and spring-steel bars 

 should be substituted for the present ones of wood, of such size 

 as to make the sled three inches wider between runners and 

 two inches lower from the ground. The metal shoes should also 

 be increased to the width of three inches. 



My sled, even without these improvements, served its pur- 

 pose well. It held as heavy a load as I could carry in two packs, 

 passed through sagebrush beautifully, and could be hung up in 

 a tree, with pack tied securely in place out of the way of any 

 prowling wolf or cat. It would not and could not naturally 

 stand upright on a slope so steep as to require a zigzag trail 

 to surmount it, as we found on the sides of the canon of Lone 

 Pine Creek at Mt. Whitney. On the more gradual descents we 

 rode astride on the load; on the steeper descents they rode on 

 their own loads, with runners in the air, or spun side over side 

 or end over end, while we clung to the rope. They also followed 

 readily through the jungle, — that is, as readily as we could crowd 

 a way through the yielding brush. 



On the trip to Martis Valley between. Truckee and Lake 

 Tahoe, one other weakness was developed, but the snow was then 

 at its worst. It had newly fallen after a heavy rain of long 

 duration, and overlay a stratum of water which froze persistently 

 to the cold metal of the runners, so reducing the sliding power 

 of the sled that I was obliged to drag it down hill as well as up. 



The sleeping-bag was successful from the start. It consisted 

 of a large rabbit blanket inside a light duck case. Under the 

 blanket was a light rubber sheet to re-enforce the duck. In the 

 foot of the bag I placed a feather pillow, with a large packet 

 inside to contain my feet. This idea was inspired by frostbite 

 from sleeping out in zero weather with felt boots and rubbers, 

 which probably had grown damp during the day. 



A tent is also sometimes advisable. A McCall tent, listed 



