Page:Canadian Alpine Journal I, 2.djvu/51

Rh and only the thought of tomorrow persuaded us to turn in. A tent with double blanket on yielding, fragrant boughs seemed luxurious. We fastened the lower flap to keep out the porcupines who have a playful habit of chewing footgear and driving, the quill, to one's dismay, when interfered with.

After a restful sleep, which you often fail to get in city turmoil, we arose as Aurora, rosy-fingered dawn, was tinting the rocks and glaciers in soft morning light. Breakfast over, we continued our circuit. Above the timber-line we stopped at Crystal Cave to secure specimens and a farewell view of the lake. Like Lot's wife, we could not resist glancing back for just one more view to salt down in our memory. Opabin Pass was the first goal, and on our way up, on the benches above, we passed two small lakes covered with floating ice. In skirting them we sank repeatedly in the loose snow, making slow progress. From above the lakes, looking westward, a panorama of mountain scenery was presented, broader and more extensive than we had enjoyed at Lake O'Hara. In the distance we could see Mount Odaray prominent among many other peaks. Light clouds in the clear blue sky heightened the effect. Opabin Pass lacked the elements of danger and the strenuousness of Abbot Pass. A good long pull over the pass and a slide and coast on the other side brought us down the slope below the snow-field; and on a rocky, heather-covered knob, where we could shake the snow from our feet, and bask in the sunshine, we ate lunch, with plenty of sparkling water and a glorious view to feast on. Just below us stood the Rock Tower, a curious monolith rising above the bed of the valley. Keeping to the left, we worked along the side of the valley a short distance until we reached the rock-slide below Wenkchemna Pass. Struggling up over small loose rock and then stepping on larger boulders, we reached snow-line, the sun a blaze of glory at our backs, reflecting the heat from snow and