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unattainableness。 These rides of ours were day rides。 We had to get
home by nightfall。 Our horses had to be fed； ourselves to be housed。
We had not time to continue on down the other side whither the trail led。
At the very and literal brink of achievement we were forced to turn back。
Gradually the idea possessed us。 We promised ourselves that some
day we would explore。 In our after…dinner smokes we spoke of it。
Occasionally； from some hunter or forest…ranger； we gained little items of
information； we learned the fascination of musical namesMono Canon；
Patrera Don Victor； Lloma Paloma； Patrera Madulce； Cuyamas； became
familiar to us as syllables。 We desired mightily to body them forth to
ourselves as facts。 The extent of our mental vision expanded。 We heard
of other mountains far beyond these farthestmountains whose almost
unexplored vastnesses contained great forests； mighty valleys； strong
water…courses； beautiful hanging…meadows； deep canons of granite； eternal
snows；mountains so extended； so wonderful； that their secrets offered
whole summers of solitary exploration。 We came to feel their marvel； we
came to respect the inferno of the Desert that hemmed them in。 Shortly
we graduated from the indefiniteness of railroad maps to the intricacies of
geological survey charts。 The fever was on us。 We must go。
A dozen of us desired。 Three of us went； and of the manner of our
going； and what you must know who would do likewise； I shall try here to
tell。
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THE MOUNTAINS
II
ON EQUIPMENT
If you would travel far in the great mountains where the trails are few
and bad； you will need a certain unique experience and skill。 Before you
dare venture forth without a guide； you must be able to do a number of
things； and to do them well。
First and foremost of all； you must be possessed of that strange sixth
sense best described as the sense of direction。 By it you always know
about where you are。 It is to some degree a memory for back… tracks and
landmarks； but to a greater extent an instinct for the lay of the country； for
relative bearings； by which you are able to make your way across…lots
back to your starting…place。 It is not an uncommon faculty； yet some lack
it utterly。 If you are one of the latter class； do not venture； for you will
get lost as sure as shooting； and being lost in the mountains is no joke。
Some men possess it； others do not。 The distinction seems to be
almost arbitrary。 It can be largely developed； but only in those with
whom original endowment of the faculty makes development possible。
No matter how long a direction…blind man frequents the wilderness； he is
never sure of himself。 Nor is the lack any reflection on the intelligence。
I once traveled in the Black Hills with a young fellow who himself frankly
confessed that after much experiment he had come to the conclusion he
could not 〃find himself。〃 He asked me to keep near him； and this I did as
well as I could； but even then； three times during the course of ten days he
lost himself completely in the tumultuous upheavals and canons of that
badly mixed region。 Another； an old grouse…hunter； walked twice in a
circle within the confines of a thick swamp about two miles square。 On
the other hand； many exhibit almost marvelous skill in striking a bee…line
for their objective point； and can always tell you； even after an engrossing
and wandering hunt； exactly where camp lies。 And I know nothing more
discouraging than to look up after a long hard day to find your landmarks
changed in appearance； your choice widened to at least five diverging and
similar canons； your pockets empty of food； and the chill mountain
twilight descending。
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THE MOUNTAINS
Analogous to this is the ability to follow a dim trail。 A trail in the
mountains often means merely a way through； a route picked out by some
prospector； and followed since at long intervals by chance travelers。
It may； moreover； mean the only way through。 Missing it will bring
you to ever…narrowing ledges； until at last you end at a precipice； and there
is no room to turn your horses around for the return。 Some of the great
box canons thousands of feet deep are practicable by but one passage；
and that steep and ingenious in its utilization of ledges； crevices； little
ravines； and 〃hog's…backs〃； and when the only indications to follow
consist of the dim vestiges left by your last predecessor； perhaps years
before； the affair becomes one of considerable skill and experience。 You
must be able to pick out scratches made by shod hoofs on the granite；
depressions almost filled in by the subsequent fall of decayed vegetation；
excoriations on fallen trees。 You must have the sense to know AT ONCE
when you have overrun these indications； and the patience to turn back
immediately to your last certainty； there to pick up the next clue； even if it
should take you the rest of the day。 In short； it is absolutely necessary
that you be at least a persistent tracker。
Parenthetically； having found the trail； be charitable。 Blaze it； if
there are trees； otherwise 〃monument〃 it by piling rocks on top of one
another。 Thus will those who come after bless your unknown shade。
Third； you must know horses。 I do not mean that you should be a
horse…show man； with a knowledge of points and pedigrees。 But you
must learn exactly what they can and cannot do in the matters of carrying
weights； making distance； enduring without deterioration hard climbs in
high altitudes； what they can or cannot get over in the way of bad places。
This last is not always a matter of appearance merely。 Some bits of
trail； seeming impassable to anything but a goat；