The Mountains

"The Mountains" by Stewart Edward White is an early 20th century nonfiction story that follows adventures in the California mountains. The book tells about getting ready for exploration and the hard parts of being in the wilderness, showing the story of the Tenderfoot, who stands for new adventurers, and their path of mountain exploration that teaches them about nature. It begins by discussing an upcoming trip through different mountain areas, exploring the beautiful, but threatening nature that resides there. The story starts by describing the Cold Spring Trail, a path that is exciting but also unsafe, and the author then describes the feelings people have when they arrive at the mountain tops, as they see distant mountains and are humbled. The author describes a big trip that involves careful planning, knowledge of horses, and knowing the wilderness, which implies that adventure is about the landscapes and about growing as a person.