ltitude has a
wonderful effect on plant life. This is seen in the trees at timber
line, where snow rests upon them for months. Their prostrate trunks
and gnarled branches give ample testimony to their extreme struggle
for existence. Where the ordinary plants cease to exist the snowy
protococcus holds undisputed sway on the extensive snow fields. This
is a small one-celled microscopic plant having a blood red color in
one stage of its existence. Even in the crater, on the warm rocks of
the rim, will be found three or four mosses--I have noted one there
which is not found anywhere else--several lichens, and at least one
liverwort.

[Illustration: Lupines.]

{p.140}
[Illustration: Copyright, 1910, by E. F. Cutter. The Mountain, as seen
from a high ridge in the Cascades near Green River Hot Springs,
showing the north and east faces of the Peak, and Little Tahoma on the
left.]

NOTES.

Rates, Trains, Hotel Accommodations.--The round-trip fare from Tacoma
via the Tacoma Eastern is $6.00. This includes railway transportation
to Ashford and automobile-stage ride from Ashford to Longmire Springs
and return. Tickets are good for the season. To parties of ten or more
traveling together a single ticket is issued at $5.00 per capita. A
week-end ticket, Saturday to Monday, is sold at $5.00. The rates from
Seattle to the Springs are $1.50 more, in each case, than the Tacoma
rates. The train schedule for 1911 follows:

SOUTHBOUND
Leave Seattle 7.45 A.M. and 12.30 P.M.
Arrive Tacoma 8.55 A.M. and 1.40 P.M.
Leave Tacoma 9.05 A.M. and 1.50 P.M.
Arrive Ashford 11.20 A.M. and 4.05 P.M.
Leave Ashford 11.30 A.M. and 4.15 P.M.
Arrive at Inn 12.45 P.M. and 5.30 P.M.

NORTHBOUND
Leave Inn 7.15 A.M. and 1.30 P.M.
Arrive Ashford 8.30 A.M. and 2.45 P.M.
Leave Ashford 8.40 A.M. and 2.55 P.M.
Arrive Tacoma 10.55 A.M. and 5.10 P.M.
Leave Tacoma 11.05 A.M. and 5.15 P.M.
Arrive Seattle 12.15 P.M. and 6.30 P.M.

The National Park Inn, Longmire Springs, provides excellent rooms in
the Inn, with a large number of well-furnished and comfortable tents
near by. The rates range from $2.50 to $3.75 a day, including meals.
The dining-room is under the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound
dining-car management, which insures a satisfactory table.

At the older Longmire Hotel, the rate is $2.50 a day for room and
board. This hotel is open all the ye