Great firs and pines loomed up on all sides.

The earth was soft and the hoofs sank deep.

Toward the bottom of a descent Ranger would brace his front feet and then slide down on his haunches.

This mode facilitated travel, but it frightened Helen.

The climb out then on the other side had to be done on foot.
After half a dozen slopes surmounted in this way Helen's strength was spent and her breath was gone.