The Redwood gazette., 1894-10-18

pocket tf snow up to his armpits, or his
foot would stick in crevice and give him
a severe wrench in the effort to extricate
himself. Some of the Norwegians tried
their skis on the ice. A Norwegian wants
pair of skis on his feet wherever there is
snow. If such thing AS snow could be
imagined in the Internal regions, genu-
Inc Norwegian would want to slide into
it, If he had to 60 at all, on his favorite
pair of snowshoes, or If given his choice
Of going to snowless and skiless heaven
or to an icy hades with skis he would be
sure to prefer the latter But skis did not
60 very we'll in this ice. One Norwegian
was seen head downward in a pocket of
snow, with his skishod feet kicking about
just above the surface. Declining all as.
sistance-he would have felt disgraced
thereby-he managed to pick himself out
covered with smiles and frost But he
took off his skis and saved them for use on
the mountain side. Americans accustom-
ed to the use of the snowshoe will be sur
prised to learn that the ski is used most
effectually in mountain climbing The
ski runner in such work has his choice of
three methods. He may go up the hill
sidewise, inching along slowly, and this
he must do where the activity is very
steep. He may on q more moderate in
cline toe in for a grip upon the surface,
pushing with his bamboo ski pole, or he
may toe out, crossing his skis behind him.
It is in coming down the hill that the ski
runner has the most sport.
Today, for instance, Mr.. Juell took a
slide from the top of the mountain on
Walden island down a sharp declivity,
landing in q mass Of soft snow, in which
he was buried fairly out Of sight. Mr..
Heyerdahl turned somersault on skis,
and Mr. Alme and Mr.. Dahl followed
their example. Three livelier young men
than these it would not be easy to find,
with or without skis. Mr.. Heyerdahl,
who is young lawyer, is noted as the best
ski runner in Christiania. Lawyer Juell
is almost as skillful, while Geologist Dahl
and MeteorologistAlmea are crack men with
the national snOwshoes. Mr.. Franklin of
New York, the second fastest skater in
America, takes to the ski almost as kindly
as to the steel runners. In fact, we all like
the Norwegian snowshoe and are learning
to use it in any kind of snow. 1t will
doubtless be of much assistance to us on
the pack With bright sun and tenn
perature of IA above zero F. a ramble
through the frightful shore ice and upon
the rocky hills, with their magnificent
views of the Seven islands and of the north
coast of Spitzbergen, was greatly enjoyed.
The Bear Hunt.
But the best of the days sport was the
bear hunt. On the east side of the island
ono of our hunting parties deserted large
ice bear some distance away. They at
once dropped behind piece of ice, while
Sailor Boervig crept out on his belly and
worked his limbs and grunted in imita-
tion of seal. The bears attention was
attracted, and he came toward u.s. though
cautiously. He sidled along, snuffing the
air and occasionally shading his eyes with
his paw, but advancing and then retreat
ing, but finally coming nearer and nearer.
Boervig industriously wallowed in the
snow and grunted seallike, and SO sue
cessfully infamed the bears curiosity
that at length he came within $50 yards.
Three or four rifles cracked, and the bear
never took another step. He proved to be
an uncommonly large and fine specimen,
weighing perhaps 700 pounds and with
his winters fur soft and thick. The Nor
wegians say they never saw a better pelt.
A good tug our men had with the hide re-
turning through the ice foot, giving us an
omen of the work we are to have with our
boats and sledges. But we shall encounter
little such ice. It is produced only where
the land offers the resistance of immova-
bility to the almost infinite force of the
storm driven pack.
Still Waiting.
SATURDAY, May 19.-Officer of the day,
DR.. Mohun.
With fine weather and westerly breeze
we have nothing to do but to wait. We
are still eagerly looking for the change of
wind that will clear our way farther north.
We could start our sledge journey where
we are, but it would be an exceedingly dis
couraging journey for the first 40 or so
miles, or until the main pack was reached.
II it were not that we felt reasonably sure
| of getting 80 or 40 miles farther with the
ship by exercising little patience, we
should start our sledge journey at once,
even under the unfavorable conditions of
ice existing about these islands.
While waiting we are perfecting our ar
| rangements for sledge travelling. AS al
ways happens in such expeditions, the
weights are greater than they should be-
We intend starting with little heavier
weight than we had originally planned
but this is not a permanent weight. 1t
| will in all probability be much reduced
after we shall have been out q few days,
and this reduction will be in addition to
the usual diminution of weights by con-
sumption of food and fuel. In arranging
q sledge journey like that which we con-
template it has been necessary to bear al
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