Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-18

ment and ended as an institution. On a shining morning in July over 50 members of the club, some of them in full climbing canonicals, left Mount' Stephen house, the railway com pany's hotel at Field, with expectant faces turned toward the rendezvous. F miles away in the wilderness.
 Of two routes small party chose the trail leading over Burgess pass and round the precipitous pass of Mount Wapta, high above Emerald lake, straight on to the Yoho pass. For the sake of changing views, the infinite movement of mountains, still moving with you," this route is to be recommended strongly. There, ever before you on yon high, narrow path way, are the distant purple ranges softly folding and unfolding; and nearer mountains with clinging glaciers and gleaming streams de- scending the rock steeps thousands of feet; and 2,O00 feet below, in rich green forest setting, lies Emerald lake. These changing sites are worth the long tramp or ride on the back of sure-footed broncho.
 The other, less difficult, more popu- lar route by eight miles of wagon road through a lovely forest avenue and nine miles of trail, was chosen by most of the 50 Rejecting the wagon, many walked the excellent driving road, swinging off with that gait wh' th betokens your vagabond born-a hopeful omen, for most were city dwellers. The road runs straight through the tall forest of frs, whose topmost spikes are softened to e fringe of green against the narrow blue roof of the sky. cathedral aisle in nature with a gray, white-crested mountain at either end; or 1t winds gently till 1t reaches the chalet on the edge of Emerald lake. said less difficult trail, but certain clements of glacier and sun, and afterwards rain. were circumventing our easy-going trampers.
 Next, day, in rain again. the first official ascent of the club was made by party roped to two Swiss guides. Although two were ladies, although 1t rained from start to finish, although the ascent involved steep rock climb ing. glacier, step-cutting. and over mile of soft snowfield, not one funk ed" and they reached the summit in a shower of sleet and wind. There were, of course, no views; but tho party. mostly neophytes, was deter mined to show what stun plainsfolk were made of There was laundering, echoing applause upon their return to camp.
 Every morning parties set out for different summits or for the two days pilgrimage into the Yoho valley and up to the great Wapta Glacier at its terminus. Every day recruits arrived fin camp. Every day there was a mall and fresh supplies from the commits sariat Every day telegrams were sent of the progress of the climbing.
 The pass itself is lodging place to remember. The cIose wood of fir and pine and fragrant balsam opens on c lovely meadow carpeted with white and purple heath: and manifold vari- eeties of gaily colored and rare flowers abound. Here and thero on the mead ow trees are grouped in parkiaks effect. Under the shadow of Mount wapta, gray against the bluest of skies. in the very heart of this balmy forest. lies a tarn of purest emerald- green. fed by myriads of tiny springs beneath it's shallow bed. No glacial stream sullies its limpid water. It ought to be called Emerald rather than the turbid glacial lake of that name 1000 feet below. whose color is nearer turquoise When Summit lake,-as it is caIled-ls calm in early morning. the fine bubbles are seen yelling upwards to the surface as if Nature had inverted her law. and dew drops were rising instead of falling. But when once the sun Is up and the surface breezs rui1es its surface. it flashes ike an emerald of purest vE ter.
 For the summer of this year the meet viii be on a meadow of about . square niles area at the upper end of Paradise valley. at the foot ot Horseshoe glacier on Mount Hxnez< bee lchieftainl. the most cf1cui< mountain in the neighborhooc of f,n& glacier mountains It hos onfY nssn once climbed. and that vss hT an ex< pert AIp5nist and two swiss Euf6eA