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trail； seeming impassable to anything but a goat； a Western horse will
negotiate easily； while others； not particularly terrifying in appearance；
offer complications of abrupt turn or a single bit of unstable； leg…
breaking footing which renders them exceedingly dangerous。 You must；
moreover； be able to manage your animals to the best advantage in such
bad places。 Of course you must in the beginning have been wise as to
the selection of the horses。
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Fourth； you must know good horse…feed when you see it。 Your
animals are depending entirely on the country； for of course you are
carrying no dry feed for them。 Their pasturage will present itself under a
variety of aspects； all of which you must recognize with certainty。 Some
of the greenest； lushest； most satisfying…looking meadows grow nothing
but water…grasses of large bulk but small nutrition； while apparently barren
tracts often conceal small but strong growths of great value。 You must
differentiate these。
Fifth； you must possess the ability to pare a hoof； fit a shoe cold； nail it
in place。 A bare hoof does not last long on the granite； and you are far
from the nearest blacksmith。 Directly in line with this； you must have the
trick of picking up and holding a hoof without being kicked； and you must
be able to throw and tie without injuring him any horse that declines to be
shod in any other way。
Last； you must of course be able to pack a horse well； and must know
four or five of the most essential pack…〃hitches。〃
With this personal equipment you ought to be able to get through the
country。 It comprises the absolutely essential。
But further； for the sake of the highest efficiency； you should add； as
finish to your mountaineer's education； certain other items。 A knowledge
of the habits of deer and the ability to catch trout with fair certainty are
almost a necessity when far from the base of supplies。 Occasionally the
trail goes to pieces entirely： there you must know something of the
handling of an axe and pick。 Learn how to swim a horse。 You will have
to take lessons in camp…fire cookery。 Otherwise employ a guide。 Of
course your lungs； heart； and legs must be in good condition。
As to outfit； certain especial conditions will differentiate your needs
from those of forest and canoe travel。
You will in the changing altitudes be exposed to greater variations in
temperature。 At morning you may travel in the hot arid foot…hills； at
noon you will be in the cool shades of the big pines； towards evening you
may wallow through snowdrifts； and at dark you may camp where
morning will show you icicles hanging from the brinks of little waterfalls。
Behind your saddle you will want to carry a sweater； or better still a
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buckskin waistcoat。 Your arms are never cold anyway； and the pockets
of such a waistcoat； made many and deep； are handy receptacles for
smokables； matches； cartridges； and the like。 For the night…time； when
the cold creeps down from the high peaks； you should provide yourself
with a suit of very heavy underwear and an extra sweater or a buckskin
shirt。 The latter is lighter； softer； and more impervious to the wind than
the sweater。 Here again I wish to place myself on record as opposed to a
coat。 It is a useless ornament； assumed but rarely； and then only as
substitute for a handier garment。
Inasmuch as you will be a great deal called on to handle abrading and
sometimes frozen ropes； you will want a pair of heavy buckskin gauntlets。
An extra pair of stout high…laced boots with small Hungarian hob…nails
will come handy。 It is marvelous how quickly leather wears out in the
downhill friction of granite and shale。 I once found the heels of a new
pair of shoes almost ground away by a single giant…strides descent of a
steep shale…covered thirteen… thousand…foot mountain。 Having no others
I patched them with hair…covered rawhide and a bit of horseshoe。 It
sufficed； but was a long and disagreeable job which an extra pair would
have obviated。
Balsam is practically unknown in the high hills； and the rocks are
especially hard。 Therefore you will take； in addition to your gray army…
blanket； a thick quilt or comforter to save your bones。 This； with your
saddle…blankets and pads as foundation； should give you easeif you are
tough。 Otherwise take a second quilt。
A tarpaulin of heavy canvas 17 x 6 feet goes under you； and can be； if
necessary； drawn up to cover your head。 We never used a tent。 Since
you do not have to pack your outfit on your own back； you can； if you
choose； include a small pillow。 Your other personal belongings are those
you would carry into the Forest。 I have elsewhere described what they
should be。
Now as to the equipment for your horses。
The most important point for yourself is your riding… saddle。 The
cowboy or military style and seat are the only practicable ones。 Perhaps
of these two the cowboy saddle is the better； for the simple reason that
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often in roping or leading a refractory horse； the horn is a great help。 For
steep…trail work the double cinch is preferable to the single； as it need not
be pulled so tight to hold the saddle in place。
Your riding…bridle you will make of an ordinary halter by riveting two
snaps to the lower part of the head…piece just above the corners of the
horse's mouth。 These are snapped into the rings of the bit。 At night you
unsnap the bit； remove it and the reins； and leave the halter part on the
horse。 Each animal； riding and packing； has furthermore a short lead…
rope attached always to his halter…ring。
Of p