The Dickinson press., 1898-04-30
light hand side, attached to the Sled BY

light hdHu size, Attached to the sled by
slipping through two iron rings. Upon
the strength of this "gee-pole" depends
a mans success or failure in getting
down the hill. A rope was attached to
the back of our sled and l followed b..
hind, to hold back by the rope and to
keep the load from ups:tting, if possible.
From the summit down to Crater Lake
is a steep descent of about a quarter of a
mile, and the sleds llav> worn the trails
SO it is a succession Of steep pitches all
the way down. Just as we started a kind
hearted gentleman who evidently knew
a tender-foot when he saw one, accosted
us and asked if it was our first trip down.
We admitted that it was, whereupon he
proceeded to show Willis how to tie a
mysterious kind of knot in one end of his
pulling rope that would slip under the
runner and rough-lock the sled where
necessary, and release it instantly by
pulling upon the rope. We were so
thankful that he was thus thoughtful, for
much profanity and execration were
showered upon the men who stopped at
each steep place to tie on ropes and then
release them by untying. The trip down
the hill is short, but exciting, as you con-
stantly run the risk of being impaled up
on the gee-pole of the sled just behind
you. We got down without overturning
our load once. which was pretty good for
tenderfeet. Across Crater Lake, a long
levelstretch, then on and on over a
smooth trail with an always downward
slope, SO that the sled almost runs itself,
until the head of the canyon is reached,
two miles from Lindeman. Here begins
a headlong descent, more exciting than
down from the summit, for the trail is SO
narrow that the sleds must all go down
in single file. There are sharp curves
and turns and places where the creek is
open, to avoid; to say nothing of the
ever-present danger from the sled just
! behind you. W. got through without
mishap and reached u camping place
at six o'clock, having. made the trip of
ten miles in exactly four hours. There
is much delay on the trail, however, ow-
ing to sleds upsetting and dog-teams get
ting tangled up; and an ordinary walker
could easily make the trip in three hours,
with a load, on a clear trail. We were
fortunate enoughto find three gentlemen
who were to move their camp the next
morning. We pitched our tent on the
bare snow that night and moved into
aheir camping place the e morning.
There is a good log frame for the tent,
as theirs was the same size as ours, and
they gave us a large pile of wood, all
ready cut for the stove. So you see
there are kind hearted people every
where and we meet with as much kind
ness and courtesy here as we ever did
back in the states.
Lake Lindeman must be very beautiful
in summer. At present it is a smooth
expanse and of snowy white, nestled be-
tween high mountains and is a mile wide
and six miles long. We are encamped
on the right bank about a mile from the
head of the lake. Here we shall remain
the summit. We expect Mr.. and Mrs.
Canavan to-day or tomorrow. The Nc
Donald party came the same day we did.
All are we'll and hearty. We are able to
eat anything we can get our hands on.
We a lie down at night on the snow
and sleep as soundly as we ever did in
our beds at home. We have a fur robe,
and 40 one should ever come into this
country without one, for it is absolutely
cold-proof. We spread our rubber sheets
down On the snow, then half the robe
with the fur side down, then our thick
wooden comforts, then roll up in our
blankets and pull the other half of the
robe over us, and there we are. We have
never had a cold or seen a sick day since
we started on this trip. If we have no
bad luck, shall have all our stuff down to
the head of Lake Bennett in about three
weeks, and will write from there.
). EIyAH Cy,NNyxcuAs