e inspiration of my ideals. I seized upon every written word
concerning them and plowed through thick, poorly-printed volumes on the
frontier for one brief sentence about these gallant scouts. I longed
to emulate their fearless, immortal deeds. They left an indelible
impress upon my character, even as they had upon the romantic annals of
their country.

My growing familiarity with the Rocky Mountain region opened up one
trail in which I could follow their footsteps. Tourists were finding
out the country, guides were in demand. In the early days, before the
creation of the National Park, guides were unlicensed. Any experienced
old-timer or climber could take parties up the Peak or on other alpine
trips. I began guiding by taking occasional visitors up Long's. I
furnished my horse, and on most trips, supplies, wrangled the
pack-horses, made camp, cooked the meals, and gave invaluable advice
and "first aid" all for the munificent wage of five dollars a day!
That sum made the replacement of climb-shattered cameras, the
purchasing of a few coarse, cheap garments, and the acquiring of a
Montgomery Ward library, all such riches, possible.

The work afforded none of the opportunities for fame and glory that had
lurked in the trails of my heroes; I did not creep stealthily from a
wagon train in the dead of night to thwart the redmen in a fiendish
massacre; I was not compelled to kill game to furnish food for my
charges; I did not have to find fords across wide, deep and treacherous
unknown rivers, and steer panic-stricken cattle or heavily laden oxen
across them. But even though the work lacked the glamour of the
pioneers' primitive, golden day, it was not without engrossing
interests. It was filled with drama, relieved by comedy, sometimes
fraught with tragedy.

Yes; styles in guides have changed since Bill Cody scouted the plains,
even as they have changed since I piloted my first party up Long's
Peak. A new breed has sprung up since the people have made such wide
use of their National Parks. Not only the modern guides outwit the
savage elements, but, under the National Park administration, they are
required to have a fund of general information, especially nature lore,
to be able to identify the thousands of varieties of wild flowers, the
birds, animals and trees; to conduct field classes in geology, and to
explain every phenomenon of weather and climate. Such a guide must
have the patience to answer numberles