Down hill work is indeed glorious. No express train can rival the _ski_ for speed. Its only drawback is danger of accident. On level country _ski_ traveling is simply walking on a board walk, except that the pedestrian carries the board with him, and makes and unmakes the road as fast as he goes. This is hard enough, especially if the snow is sticky, but when it comes to up hill traveling it is a truly laborious matter. If the hill is steep, there is danger of losing one's grip on the snow and sliding backward down the hill. Where the ascent is too steep to work up by direct forward movement, "corduroying" is resorted to. The traveler works up sidewise, stepping up a foot or so with the upper _ski_ and following with the lower. Generally this sidewise movement is combined with a slight forward movement, the _skis_ being pointed up hill at as steep an inclination as they will hold. The dress and equipment of the snow-shoe traveler are reduced to a minimum consistent with protection from the climate. This protection is really needed only at camping places, for the extraordinary exertion of traveling keeps the body in a continuous glow of warmth. Generally, warm woolen underwear, with canvas surface garments to keep out the wind and to shed snow, are the essential features of the dress. No overcoat is worn, but a tightly drawn belt takes its place. The feet are the weak point. "Natural wool socks, then a pair of Indian moccasins, then a pair of heavy gray army socks, then Arctic overshoes and leggings," is the description of an equipment actually used. A broad hat is frequently worn to keep snow out of the neck, and colored glasses are indispensable to prevent snow blindness. Baggage is limited to the strictest necessities, and is so packed that it will rest uniformly on the back from the shoulders to the hips. No eating of snow or drinking of water can be safely indulged in while _en route_. The traveler must go strictly "dry" between meals. [Illustration: _Terry Engr. Co._ _Haynes, Photo., St. Paul._ Geyser Basins in Winter.]