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Sierra Club Bulletin 



though steep, way down the other side of the mountain to Evolution 

 Lake, and we called back to our companions, George J. Young and 

 H. W. Hill, that we would descend that way. After directing our 

 steps some distance along the ridge toward the summit, the difficulties 

 appeared less, so we shouted to Hill and Young to come on. They 

 failed, however, to hear us, and, presuming that we had given up 

 the attempt, they returned to camp after an unsuccessful effort to 

 reach the larger notch. 



The thrills we experienced, especially in one place where the ridge 

 narrowed to a knife-edge, are more keenly remembered than easily 

 described. A half-hour of climbing brought us to the summit, elated 

 at our success and inspired by the view, but a trifle disappointed to 

 find that the mountain had already been twice ascended, both times 

 from the Evolution Lake side. The record found in a small baking- 

 powder can contained data regarding an ascent on August 12, 1908, 

 by E. C. Andrews, of the Geological Survey of New South Wales, 

 and Willard D. Johnson, of the United States Geological Survey, 

 and that of Olive J. Schreber, Fred C. Snell, and AUie J. Brown on 

 August 16, 19 14. The can containing the record was badly rusted 

 and should be replaced at the first opportunity by a more durable 

 Sierra Club cylinder. 



The top of Mount Darwin is a broad, gradually ascending sur- 

 face, quite similar to the summit of Mount Whitney, with the culmi- 

 nating point a vertical column of rock about fifteen feet high, so 

 regularly fissured as to closely resemble masonry. Mount Darwin is 

 well named, as it is easily the dominating peak of the Evolution 

 group. The view from the summit, while very fine, is not equal to 

 that from North Palisade or Seven Gables. There is no view of Inyo 

 Valley. 



Retracing our trail to the notch, we descended the steep chimney 

 filled with loose rocks to the talus, and on through meadowy benches 

 to the lake. The next day Young and Hill ascended the mountain 

 from the Evolution Lake side, following substantially the previous 

 day's route of descent. Hardly had they left camp when storm- 

 clouds began rapidly gathering, and before noon the storm broke 

 upon the Evolution peaks. Knowing the fearless determination of 

 our companions and that they would stop only when the top of the 

 mountain had been reached, Frandsen and I were fearful that some 

 accident might befall them, and we were much relieved when late in 



