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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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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； 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