The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-27
Down a Desperate Trail

The descent took nearly three hours,
and by the time we reached the bottom
we were just about exhausted To add
to our discomfort 1t was nearly dark
and the portion OF the valley in which
we found ourselves was absolutely de-
cold of any vegetation which would
serve as feed for Skoozicks. To enter
Tehipiti valley at this time OF day is
decidedly uncanny. Except for the
points where the river entered and left
(the middle fork OF the Kings flows
through the valley) we were entirely
surrounded by great cliffs OF almost
perpendicular rock of an age
height of 1900 feet. with the great
Tehipiti dome standing out from the
adjoining cliffs and towering above
them an additional 700 or 500 feet In
descending the trail into the valley we
had felt as a fly might feel when
clinging to the side of the Call build
ing. Now we felt as If we were at the
bottom Of some Brobdingnagian sep
uIchre.
Luckily we found the only feed in
the valley. 1t was located at least a
mile and a half from the point where
we entered the valley on an island in
the middle of the river. Tired as we
same instinct as that which guides the
homing pigeon. 1t was especially for
tunate that we found this island camp,
as the valley Is badly infested with
rattlesnakes. The branch Of the river
which we had forded served as an ef-
fectual bar to any visitors OF this
species, snakes of every description
treme GOODNESS of the mountain
streams. We supped and turned i'm
that night with as little delay as pos
sible, having covered not less than %
miles, including some of the toughest
trail to be found anywhere. We de-
cided to leave Skoozicks united. as he
would surely get tangled in the tfiickly
wooded ground surrounding our camp
and the idea of his fording the stream
when not under compulsion was too
ridiculous to be considered.
When We awoke tae next morning.
however, Skoozicks was nowhere to be
seen. The ground around the camp
was tracked with his footprints, but
they led to the waters edge in so
many places that It was quite impos-
sible to trace them The roar OF the
river was so great that we could not
have heard him had he been within
100 feet from where we stood. The
situation did not look inviting. As !
had blistered my feet very badly the
day before 1t was agreed that I should
stay in camp to get breakfast and clean
the guns while Pal went fishing. Al
though neither of us mentioned the
fact we had each taken Disappearing
glances at our little store OF provisions
which had begun to diminish more rap
idly than we had anticipated 1t was
hoped that this expedition might fur
nish US with food as well as result in
the recovery of Skoozicks-
1t was not until the next morning
that we actually found our horse. He
had crossed to the farther side of the
river in search OF feed Our finding him
is no credit to our search. as we actu-
ally stumbled on him where he lay un-
der tree. entirely oblivious to the
worry which he was causing. Once
In possession OF horse we could not
say our adfeus to Tehipiti fast enough
to suit. That night found Us seven
miles away. We had passed over a por-
ton OF the trail which. though not as
steep as the descent into Tehipiti. was
infinitely rougher- A piece Of this
trail is known as He11's half mile. but
the whole would be very aptly described
as Hel1'B highway
BY noon OF the next day We had COM