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Sierra Club Bulletin 



shelf bountifully covered with a great variety of flowers and 

 shrubs, with a magnificent view to the west, across the cafion, 

 upon the impressive sweep of the Ritter group; and to the 

 south, upon the tangle of mountains that formed the watershed 

 of the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin. I have seen no finer 

 view in the Sierra. Bidding farewell to this splendid region, 

 we descended to Rush Creek, made a slight detour to obtain a 

 closer view of Gem Lake, and rose to Gem Pass, where, from 

 a near-by eminence, the outlook to the east over Mono Lake 

 expanded into a fine panorama. At Alger Lake (10,500 feet) 

 the party spent the fifth night. Here, in the v/ake of a band of 

 sheep, one had a suggestion of the offensive conditions that ob- 

 tained quite generally in the grassy regions of the Sierra years 

 ago, before unrestricted grazing was abolished. Alger Lake 

 was bleak and windy; the provisions were running low; small 

 clumps of stunted albicaulis offered the only sheltered sleeping- 

 places ; but such slight discomforts did not ruffle the spirits of 

 the group. The camp-fire was just as enjoyable and the camp- 

 songs and jests had the customary healthy tone. 



The sixth day took us over Koip Ridge, through Parker 

 Pass and past Mono Pass, with fine outlooks down the eastern 

 slope of the Sierra over the colorful Mono desert, and back to 

 Soda Springs, by way of the Dana Meadows. It had been a 

 superb experience, with no untoward incident to mar its enjoy- 

 ment. 



Another side-trip^ second in interest only to the ''big trip," 

 was a two-day excursion to Mount Conness. The party left 

 Soda Springs on Friday, July 25th, and made camp at the 

 larger of the Young Lakes, picturesquely set on a glacial bench 

 under the north slope of Ragged Peak. The Chinese cooks 

 having missed their way, the chairman of the club's outing 

 committee, who led the party, gave new concrete evidence of 

 his mountain craft by stepping into the breach and preparing, 

 with the assistance of willing hands, a most enjoyable dinner 

 for ninety critical Sierrans. The stew was pronounced worthy 

 of special mention. The waning sunhght on Conness to the 

 north, and the twilight colors on the cliffs about the lake were 

 wonderful. At the camp-fire, Mr. Matthes, of the Geological 

 Survey, gave an illuminating talk on glacial cirques, motivated 



