ACROSS THE SIERRA NEVADA ON SKIS 



By H. C. Bradley 



OR many years I had hoped for the time when I should visit 



X the Sierra in midwinter, planning the route and the equipment 

 as one will even when the realization of the dream seems quite im- 

 possible. Unexpectedly the opportunity came last year, and I was 

 able to make the dream come true. An account of the journey on 

 skis and across the range by the Placerville grade to Truckee may 

 be of interest to other Sierra Club members. 



The start was made from Berkeley on New Year's day, with clear 

 weather about the bay and favorable reports throughout the north- 

 ern half of the state. We had just had a day or two of rain, and the 

 storm had passed with northerly winds behind it, so that there was 

 every reason to expect fine weather for some days to come. 



I had gone over the equipment with the greatest care, taking only 

 what seemed essential, and yet prepared for any emergency that 

 might arise. As I had to make the trip alone, many little things had 

 to be provided as accident insurance which might have been left out 

 or at least divided in a larger party. For camping in the snow the 

 lightest possible waterproof sheet (6 by 7) was taken as a shelter fly. 

 A sweater, mackinaw coat, mittens, and extra woolen socks were in- 

 cluded for cold weather. In addition, the pack included a miniature 

 medicine-kit, camera and films, snow-glasses, automatic pistol, extra 

 rawhide thongs for repairs, ski "dope," thirty feet of light, strong 

 braided cord for tent lashings, and a two-handed axe of Hudson 

 Bay model. The axe was taken in lieu of blankets or sleeping-bag, 

 and thoroughly justified itself. Only the driest obtainable food was 

 taken — sugar, chocolate, dry bean-and-vegetable soup cartridges, 

 dried graham bread, cereal, bacon, butter, milk-powder, coffee and 

 tea tablets. The cooking outfit consisted of an army mess-kit, an 

 army tin cup rigged with a wire bail, and an aluminum bowl fitting 

 the mouth of the cup. Axe included, the pack tipped the scales at 

 forty pounds, and assured food enough for five days at least, with the 

 possibility of making it last another day or so if necessary. For trans- 

 portation a pair of hickory skis and a stout ski-staff were taken. 



