Towards the top we left the decomposed granite and underbrush behind, climbing the rocks in preference to the snow, where the choice was allowed us.

The wind howled and shrieked, and blew with a force great enough to destroy balance, while its icy touch brought the blood tingling to our cheeks.
At last we reached the summit.

And oh! the joy of achievement.
All Rubicon ridge and its neighbors, as far as the eye could see, were white with snow; the lakes in the valley below were still frozen--only one showing any blue.

Clouds came up rapidly from the west, rushed by to the Nevada side where they piled up in great cumulous heaps.

The apex of Pyramid was cloud-capped all day.