The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-11-06

tion was now ten thousand feet above the sea level, and the trees had become scarce and stunted in their growth, a species of tamarack, which surprised us somewhat, as we associated them With low and marshy ground. The foliage was rather sparse and the development of the tree seemed to be more In the direction of trunk and limbs, strange distorted shapes twisted and deformed by heavy snows and relentless winds. One could easily imagine the counter felt of bird and beast, and the human form, and 1t would be weird place to visit at night, and particularly when the moon cast shadows and intensified the uncanny shapes. The scene re- minded us of one of Dore's pictures in Dante's Inferno. A few steps more
 brought us to @ peaceful little vale where a tiny stream glistened in the
 bright sunlight. The crystal waters burst from the mountain side not far from where we stood, dancing merrily down a stony pathway and making sweet music in grateful praise for the beauty of the world and in apparent adoration to the overshadowing crest of Freel A grassy level by this stream culd III llG SlldOG Ol lllC tellllell etIhn VI
 fered a tempting spot for rest and luncheon, and cracking fire, together with a coffee pot and other essentials, soon furnished us warm drink and food; time about 12:30. I carried gun
 as far as this resting place, but for this reason no game appeared in sight ex- cept small birds and chipmunks. The way now grew sleeper and we discard- ed gun and other parcels and Mike" to await our return from the summit.
 Disintegrated granite and broken
 quartz rock made the walking more now so near that we climbed on with tiresome, but our destination seemed out much difficulty or complaining. The top of the mountain for an eleva- tion of about one thousand feet ap- peared like a great pyramid, very clearly defined and rising to a sharp peak. What little vegetation there was seemed to be more of the tamarack growth, but very much dwarfed, about like the sage brush of the plains, and clinging tenaciously to mother earth as though in fear of being torn from her side by the strong winds which must at times blow furiousy upon and about this mountain. We were fortunate in having clear day for our trip, with little wind, although now and then an icy blast gave us a greeting and then made way for more temperate breezes, as though regretful of the chilly well come. Occasional clouds sailed by and above us tinged with rainy shadows, but for the most part dazzling in their whiteness and making more intense the glorious blue of the sky. Near the summit and on the east side patch of snow still remained, probably much less than usual, owing to the lack of rain and storm during the present sum- | mer season. At the very top we found 8 signal pole decorated with black and white muslin and a white loZenge, erected by the United States Coast and | Geodetic surveyors for observation and | use in running long lines in their sys- | tenn of triangulation. The pole was held in place by means of heavy gall vanized wire anchored to boulders and l cairn of granite rocks had been built l up around the base of the signal. In a crevice of this cairn on the southeast side the metal cylinder of the Sierra club was placed, containing register in- l scribed with the date and the names of 
 cession of mountain climbers. The view from the top is grand, as might be
 expected, and much more so than from
 most of the Sierra peaks. Toward the i east we could see into Carson valley with its cultivated fields, some brown
 and yellow and others fresh with living | green. Lake Tahoe was all before and | beneath us in northerly direction, it's l.. .I,.a .,,r J 1 here and there by streaks of shade marking the kisses of the wind. Small CT lakes nestled in mountain cradles l shining in the flash of the sunlight with siIvery brightness. To the south and
 west there seemed to be an endless | group of mountain peaks, pointed
 round, square and ragged, resembling a | gigantic contour map, but full of the
 life of the world and most interesting
 to look upon. Oh such mass ot
 brown and gray and red earth and
 rock, relieved by a wreath of piney greens and purple haze In this direc-
 ton we could look down into Faith Hope and Charity valleys and see the
 narrow thread of bright water which we knew to be the west fork of the Car
 son river. Mount Tallac, upon the summit of which all of us had been
 seemed far beneath us, and we glori- jed in the satisfaction of having ac. | complished the object of our excursion The fascination of this slightly eleva' tion held us captive until we were forced to begin the descent in order tc get back home that same evening. Il
 we make the trip again it will be bes
 to leave Lakeside later in the day. bu
 in time to make camp in the valley
 where our team was left, remain there
 all night and then start for the noun.
 tain early the following morning witt
 abundant time for the climb and fol
 visiting other peaks and places of in.
 terest in the vicinity Several log cab
 ins formerly occupied by wood chopper:
 are located there and these would fur
 nish convenient and comfortable camps
 A short distance after leaving the sum
 init our party separated, MT. Smith re
 turning to the spot wehre the horse ant
 gun were dropped, thence to ride to tht
 valley, while Mrs. Smith, MT. Libby
 and walked across a ridge to the righ over fields of broken quartz crystal:
 and through clumps of spectral trees il
 search of a small lake which we coulC
 see from the mountain top. Our direc ton was correct and we found the lak
 to be a gem in a setting of forest ant