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Sierra Club Bulletin 



INDIAN HENRY^S HUNTING GROUND— RAINIER 

 NATIONAL PARK 



By a. Martha Walker 



Mr. Muir has taught us that, if we are to see anything in the 

 mountains, we are to go alone.* Emerson has told us not to 

 take with us Paris and Berlin. Another writer has told us to 

 "go light." In cheerful remembrance of the above rules, I 

 started at seven one morning, to walk from Longmire Springs 

 (2,762 ft.), to far-famed Indian Henry's (6,000 ft.) . It was the 

 second week in July, but only the previous day the first pack- 

 train had gone through the deep snow, for the season was late. 

 I had asked about the trail and the distance and learned that it 

 was ''about eight miles, with an up and a down and then a long 

 up again." That the whole upper region in there would be 

 under snow was the prime attraction. To travel joyfully over 

 snow-drifts in July, dressed in the thinnest summer garb, would 

 be interesting. 



The trail was clear, and the dense, dark woods of a Wash- 

 ington forest are marvelous enough to incite anyone to walk 

 thoughtfully and expectantly, eyes and mind both alert. Moss 

 and greenery filled in the damp floor between the tall trees that 

 kept out the sunlight. Only little patches of sunshine were 

 sprinkled here and there. I remember once, when warm from 

 exertion, trying to find enough sunlight space to lie down in, 

 on the hill slope, but it could not be found. 



When I had been an hour on the trail, I could hear below 

 me the ring of a horse's hoof as it struck a stone. Soon ap- 

 peared the beaming face of Johnny, with his first catch of the 

 season's "tourists," all on horses. 



"You're doing well," he said. 



"I may take lunch over in camp with you," I answered. 



The "tourists" looked pityingly and patronizingly down on 

 me from their high eminences. Soon all was peace and quiet 

 again for the rest of the climb, up and up, one zigzag after 

 another, but not yet to the top of the first ridge. It was there 

 I would get my first view "out of the woods" and see the great 



