elevated point. This exploit is
worthy of description at the hands of the Pathfinder himself.

"At intervals we reached places where a number of springs gushed from
the rocks, and about 1,800 feet above the lakes came to the snow line.
From this point our progress was uninterrupted climbing. Hitherto, I had
worn a pair of thick moccasins, with soles of parfleche but here I put
on a light thin pair, which I had brought for the purpose, as now the
use of our toes became necessary to a further advance. I availed myself
of a sort of comb of the mountain, which stood against the wall like
a buttress, and which the wind and solar radiation, joined to the
steepness of the smooth rock, had kept almost entirely free from snow.
Up this I made my way rapidly. Our cautious method of advancing in
the outset had spared my strength; and, with the exception of a slight
disposition to headache, I felt no remains of yesterday's illness. In a
few minutes we reached a point where the buttress was overhanging, and
there was no other way of surmounting the difficulty than by passing
around one side of it, which was the face of a vertical precipice of
several hundred feet."

Parfleche is the name given to buffalo hide. The Indian women prepare it
by scraping and drying. It is exceedingly tough and hard, and receives
its name from the circumstance that it cannot be pierced by arrows or
spears.

The entire dress of Fremont and his party, on their ascent to the "top
of America," consisted of a blue flannel shirt, free and open at the
neck, the collar turning down over a black silk handkerchief tied
loosely, blue cloth pantaloons, a slouched broad brimmed hat, and
moccasins as above described. It was well adapted to climbing, quite
light, and at the same time warm, and every way comfortable.

"Putting hands and feet in the crevices between the blocks, I succeeded
in getting over it, and when I reached the top, found my companions in a
small valley below. Descending to them, we continued climbing, and in a
short time reached the crest. I sprang upon the summit and another step
would have precipitated me into an immense snow field five hundred feet
below. To the edge of this field was a sheer icy precipice; and then,
with a gradual fall, the field sloped off for about a mile, until it
struck the foot of another lower ridge. I stood on a narrow crest about
three feet in width, with an inclination of about 20 degrees N. 51
degrees E. As soon as