The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-24

the most ornamental OF the entire col
lection.
Reports from the committees who
had been in charge with the RESPONSE
bility of making the necessary prepar-
atoms were heard, or rather were
spoken without being heard. Every
body was entirely too anxious to be
going-and therein lay the tragedy.
The COMMITTEE on chow has esti-
mated only on the appetites of so nor
NAL and healthy young men, where it
would have been much better to have
based their estimates on the normal
appetites of SO hungry wolves. But
more of this later.
1.-THE Merry Man ofe the Sherwood
Wood" could not have presented a
more joyful or carefree appearance
than we did at the start-off. Songs,
Indian warwhoops, and anything th3t
would permit of the throwing off a
large amount of pent-up energy filled
the air. But after two hours of nearly
continuous hiking, even the most bois-
ferrous commenced to calm down a bit.
No prophet was needed to tell that ev-
cry bit Of energy would be needed be-
fore the top of the mountain was
reached.
1t was at Lanes Pinnocle that we
stopped for lunch. This event came
none too soon, for by 10 o'clock we
were hungry and by II, starved. I'm
fortunately the discipline around the
spot squared off for dining table was
ieraf hax va
been thankful that such large portion
Of their burden was placed elsewhere,
but Sherman began to look anxious at
the rapidity with which our too slender
commissariat was disappearing. At his
warning, we regretfully began to pack
up the things, and to dream hopefully
of the time when we should spread
them out again.
Then we all stretched out on the soft
earth. some profiting by a few min
utes' sleep, and others calling attention
to the scenery from their particular
watchpoint.
Some of us learned for the first time
why all this range of mountains was
called the blue Ridge" and Smoky
Mountains" The haziness of the at
mosphere dimmed the outline of the
mountain range.
We continued our journey after 40
minutes of the blissful pastime of eat
ing and looking. Many would have pre-
ferred to stay longer, but we were
warned by our guide that there was
no time to spare if we would see the
sunset from the top of Mount Mitchell
<xF
might mean, we lost no time in hitting
the trail again.
We climbed for more than three
hours from our resting point before we
found water. We found this welcome
little mountain spring forcing its way
up in the exact middle of the trail. It's
basin was hardly larger than an or
binary dipper. The fun came In the
difficulties involved in trying to ar
range for all to have their I'LL in a very
few minutes, for their was no time to
lose and only one could drink at a
time.
Finally the last man had been salts
fled and we made ready for the final
part of the climb, which proved to be
the most difficult We passed through
forests Of great hemloclxs, chestnut
oaks, beeches and birches. Covering
the soil between the trees we found a
spongy mass Of humus sometimes
foot or more In thickness; and cover
ing this, in turn, was a luxuriant
growth OF shrubs, flowers and ferns.
Now we began to get hungry, really
hungry. We were given no encourage
ment, however, for the top must be
reached before another stop.
At last we heard the shouts of those
who had reached the top. Encouraged
we took long breath and made a ,,
wild dash towards our goal Only one
little slope and we were there-out il
the open. with Gods own universe ly-
ing below in miles and miles of I'M
speakabley beauty.
In our ascent we had passed through,
as it were, the changing of the sesons.
Half way up the slope we saw fruit
long out Of season in the valleys. Up
1000 feet more the same species were
just beginning to open wide their flow
ers. more than a month divided the
seasons above and below, separated by
these 5000 feet OF altitude
Tired ana hungry as we were, we |
stood on the edge of the cliff and
feasted on the wonderful sights as long
as daylight permitted. The Mount
sunset, of which we had
heard so much, disappointed us a lit
tie. Soon after we arrived the mist
began forming very heavily, and the
glorious sun went down under bank
OF clouds.
Then we turned to more material
things. Feasting our eyes and feasting |
our stomachs presented two very diff |
ferent problems. The sights We're here
for all to look upon as much as they
but the cook gave out the very
distressing report that the abnormal
run on the kitchen at noon. had very |
nearly exhausted the reserve.
Darkness and rain came on. The /
kitchen was set UP under the side of |
cliff We hung around in the rain |