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Sierra Club Bulletin. 



tumbling after." Darkness settled about us and going became 

 doubly difficult. But the ethics of the trail forbade complain- 

 ings, and we plunged on, making merry over our stumbles. 

 Leaders of the party encouraged their followers with beautiful 

 fairy tales of a warm inn, where dinner awaited us. Never 

 did storm-driven mariners watch more eagerly for a guiding 

 light than we for the glow in the hotel window, and when the 

 dream had materialized in the form of dry attire, a roaring 

 fire, and a hot dinner, the hardships became an amusing 

 memory. Sunday the snow changed to pouring rain and while 

 a few tried out snowshoes, the majority lounged in the hotel 

 or before the huge fire in the clubhouse. 



The outfit necessary for this trip was unique to say the least. 

 Since the average resident of this mild climate is not equipped 

 for deep snow, the sudden demand for cold-weather articles had 

 caused a rush upon Alaskan outfitters, and calls upon friends 

 from colder regions. Consequently the equipment was almost 

 international in character — German socks, Swedish stockings, 

 Alaskan mucklucks, Canadian and Alaskan snowshoes, and 

 Norwegian skiis. The equipment was brought into play on 

 Monday, when a grand snowshoeing expedition was planned to 

 Narada Falls. We were nearly all of us novices and embarked 

 upon the snowshoes with some trepidation. The nautical term 

 is used advisedly, for the novice in snowshoeing is liable to 

 capsize, or make shipwreck, or experience any misadventure 

 incident to voyagers on the high seas. 



We followed the Government road, then branched off on the 

 Paradise Trail and soon found ourselves in a remote wilderness 

 ruled by the frost giants. We shall always remember the trans- 

 formation worked by the snow on the vegetation of this per- 

 fectly normal Washington forest. Fallen stumps and twisted 

 branches were changed to white monsters, sea-serpents, and 

 shapes of prehistoric creatures, with here and there a white- 

 robed nun to give us confidence. The trail was blind because 

 the snow-drifts came above the blazes on the trees. The Para- 

 dise River was no longer the charming mountain stream of sum- 

 mer-time, but a dark, raging cataract, making its way between 

 flawless white walls. Eagle Peak loomed beyond, a pure white 

 crest through the snow-filled atmosphere. Narada Falls, one of 



