up from "The Land of Little Rain." 117 



cleared it ahead, or the snow would avalanche and carry 

 us over the verge into oblivion, a kinder fate than impris- 

 onment on the trail at 13,000 feet and higher on a winter 

 night without shelter. We reluctantly decided that the 

 remainder of the journey along this route was imprac- 

 ticable, and our decision was attested by the dull boom of 

 a rock that had rolled from the ledge at our feet. 



No, an observatory on the summit of Mount Whitney 

 would not be feasible if the observer expected to come 

 to town each week. An observatory could, however, be 

 erected on the height where we stood, at 13,250 feet, 

 without any great risk and with almost the same advan- 

 tages that Mount Whitney would af¥ord. 



Our return was easy. The treacherous snow had hard- 

 ened. But in the distant west masses of cloud were piling 

 as high as heaven in fantastic forms like volcanic fires. 

 Marsh had noticed the same formation the previous 

 summer. 



Mount Whitney reminds me more of the Kaiser Ge- 

 birge and the Bitter Root Mountains than any other I 

 have seen. They are shark's teeth set on end. Yet I 

 believe that Mount Whitney can be scaled by way of the 

 depression on the west and the Devil's Ladder leading 

 upward from it, despite Marsh's conviction that the lad- 

 der cannot be ascended in winter on account of the steep 

 wall of snow that covers its terraces. If a crust forms 

 there, steps could be cut up the face of the snow. To 

 accomplish this our outfit must be carried to Lake View 

 Camp and preferably to Langley's Lake, and will require 

 five days more, at least. This attempt must therefore be 

 reserved for a future season. Our time has expired and 

 our provisions are almost gone. With packers we could 

 have accomplished much more, but half the pleasure of 

 the trip would have been sacrificed. 



Lone Pine, Friday, March 10. 

 Tuesday night, following our attempt to gain the sum- 

 mit, a wildcat stole the bacon from the head of our bed. 



