It was crossed by many logs which one might walk under in summer. Over these and the low branches the snow was heaped and arched. Once I fell clear through into a sort of cave and had much trouble, not only in freeing myself from the mess I landed in, but in getting back to the surface after I was free. Once we both got in bad at the same time and out of reach of each other and for a time it looked as if we were going to stay right there indefinitely. From the foregoing it may be gathered that one should use discretion when traveling alone in a country of down-timber and scrub.
Rocks are even worse.
The high spots close to the surface are slippery and there are no soft places to land on if the snow slides clear as one falls. One may climb any slope on which the shoes will stick and it is surprising how steep the slope may be. Do not thrust the foot through the shoe into the snow to prevent slipping. Much more resistance may be had by slapping the shoe down sharply so as to embed it evenly and then, if possible, do not raise the heel of that foot till the other shoe is planted ahead. In other words, walk flat-footed.