CHAPTER IV
OTHER CLIMBS
For ten days we hunted and fished. When the opportunity offered, we madea goat-survey of a new place. Finally, as time grew short, we realizedthat we must concentrate our energies in one effort if we were to getspecimens of this most desirable of all American big game. ThereforeFisher, Frank, Harry, and I, leaving our other two companions and themajority of the horses at the base camp, packed a few days' provisionsand started in for the highest peaks of all.
We journeyed up an unknown canon eighteen miles long, heavily wooded inthe bottoms, with great mountains overhanging, and with a beautifulclear trout stream singing down its bed. The first day we travelled tenhours. One man was always in front cutting out windfalls or otherobstructions. I should be afraid to guess how many trees we choppedthrough that day. Another man scouted ahead for the best route amiddifficulties. The other two performed the soul-destroying task ofgetting the horses to follow the appointed way. After three o'clock webegan to hope for horse feed. At dark we reluctantly gave it up. Theforest remained unbroken. We had to tie the poor, unfed horses to trees,while we ourselves searched diligently and with only partial success fortiny spots level enough and clear enough for our beds. It was very coldthat night; and nobody was comfortable; the horses least of all.
Next morning we were out and away by daylight. If we could not findhorse feed inside of four hours, we would be forced to retreat. Threehours of the four went by. Then Harry and I held the horses while ourcompanions scouted ahead rapidly. We nearly froze, for in that deepvalley the sun did not rise until nearly noon. Through an opening wecould see back to a tremendous sheer butte rising more than threethousand feet[C] by a series of very narrow terraced ledges. We named itthe Citadel, so like was it to an ancient proud fortress.
Fisher reported first. He had climbed a tree, but had seen no feed. Tenminutes later Frank returned. He had found the track of an ancientavalanche close under the mountain, and in that track grew coarsegrasses. We pushed on, and there made camp.
It was a queer enough camp. Our beds we spread in the various littlespots among the roots and hummocks we imagined to look the most even.The fire we had to build in quite another place. All around us thelodge-pole pines, firs, and larches grew close and dark and damp. Onlyto the west the snow ranges showed among the treetops like great,looming white clouds.
For two days we lived high among the glaciers and snow crags, takingtremendous tramps, seeing wonderful peaks, frozen lakes, sheer cliffs,the tracks of grizzlies in numbers, the tiny sources of great streams,and the infinity of upper spaces. But no goats; and no tracks of goats.Little by little we eliminated the possibilities of the countryaccessible to us. Leagues in all directions, as far as the eye couldreach, was plenty of other country, all equally good for goats; but itwas not within reach of us from this canon; and our time was up.Finally, we dropped back and made camp at the last feed; a mile or sobelow the Citadel. Two ranges at right angles here converged, and theCitadel rose like a tower at the corner. Here was our last chance.
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