_On the Tip-Top of Long's Peak_ 110 _A Miner on a Return Horse_ 116 _Scotch near Timber-Line_ 132 _The Cloud-Capped Continental Divide_ 144 _Ptarmigan_ 158 _Summer at an Altitude of 12,000 Feet_ 178 _A Typical Lodge-Pole Forest_ 184 _Aspens_ 204 _A Grove of Silver Spruce_ 208 _Ouray, Colorado, a Typical Mining Town_ 218 _Estes Park and the Big Thompson River from the Top of Mt. Olympus_ 238 _In the Uncompahgre Mountains_ 244 _A Grass-Plot among Engelmann Spruce_ 250 Colorado Snow Observer "Where are you going?" was the question asked me one snowy winter day. After hearing that I was off on a camping-trip, to be gone several days, and that the place where I intended to camp was in deep snow on the upper slopes of the Rockies, the questioners laughed heartily. Knowing me, some questioners realized that I was in earnest, and all that they could say in the nature of argument or appeal was said to cause me to "forego the folly." But I went, and in the romance of a new world--on the Rockies in winter--I lived intensely through ten strong days and nights, and gave to my life new and rare experiences. Afterwards I made other winter excursions, all of which were stirring and satisfactory. The recollection of these winter experiences is as complete and exhilarating as any in the vista of my memory. Some years after my first winter camping-trip, I found myself holding a strange position,--that of the "State Snow Observer of Colorado." I have never heard of another position like it. Professor L. G. Carpenter, the celebrated irrigation engineer, was making some original investigations concerning forests and the water-supply. He persuaded me to take the position, and under his direction I worked as a government experiment officer. For three successive winters I traversed the upper slopes of the Rockies and explored the crest of the continent, alone. While on this work, I was instructed to make notes on "those things that are likely to be of interest or value to the Department of Agriculture or the Weather Bureau,"--and to be careful not to lose my life. On these winter trips I carried with me a camera, thermometer, barometer, compass, notebook, and folding axe. The food carried usually was only raisins. I left all bedding behind. Notwithstanding I was alone and in the wilds, I did not carry any kind of a gun.