provised brake became uncoupled! The best he could hope for in that case was that a fore-wheel would dash up a tree. It happened sometimes that the oxen struck their heads against a solid fir-trunk, when their proprietor became suddenly minus that pair of oxen, and plus a great many fragments of wagon and contents. A well-graded highway now follows the survey of the pioneers of 1845, and conducts the tourist to Cloud-Cap Inn, at the snow line, where much comfort may be enjoyed for four or four and a half dollars per diem.
About centrally situated with regard to the Oregon division of the Cascade Range, the Three Sisters may be ascended without difficulty from the eastern side. Indeed, to get a well- formed idea of the mountains it is necessary to behold them from this side. There is no labor in travelling over the piney slopes of the eastern incline. It is like riding through interminable parks, with little obstructing undergrowth, a dry soil, and abundance of flowers, and occasional small game. Three or four days’ easy horseback travel from The Dalles through a country abounding in natural wonders brings us to the foot of the Three Sisters.
They stand in a triangular group, the base of the triangle being towards the west. Though perfectly distinct peaks, the northernmost being highest, they are connected near their base by lesser intervening elevations. Accustomed as we have become to mountains, the Three Sisters force from us the pro- foundest expressions of admiration and delight. So lofty, so symmetrical, so beautifully grouped! Nor are there wanting adjuncts which augment the interest of the scene. At the foot of the group stands a single needle of basalt several hundred feet in height, in its grim, black hardness looking like a sentinel guarding the Olympian heights above.
Our party prepare to ascend the north Sister. By reason of the greater general elevation of the country on the eastern side of the Cascade Range, and the more gradual slopes also, the toil of an ascent is greatly diminished. By keeping along a ridge we find it comparatively easy to clamber up. Two of our party, however, decide to attempt a more abrupt ascent.
As we course along our rocky ridge we watch the adventurers on the snow-field. After climbing over a sharp slope of
