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in margin: I climbed to the high summits the other day among great sloping banks of perpetual snow. The Sierra in this vicinity
reaches its highest altitudes. When we move to Big Meadows I will be able from some of the peaks to look over into Nevada.
illegible a fine view of Mono Lake. We sleep under the open sky upon spruce branches At Camp in Spruce Grove near upper
end of Yo Semite two miles from the north wall, Aug' 1st 69 - Dear Sister Sarah Just think of the blessedness of my lot
- have been camped here right in the midst of Yo Semite rocks waters for fifteen days, with nearly all of everyday to myself
to climb, sketch, write, meditate, botanize. My foot has pressed no floor but that of the mountains for many a day I am far
from the ways pursuits of man I seldom even hear the bleating of our 2500 sheep - the manifold overwhelming sublimities of
the Sierra is all in all. I am with Nature in the grandest most divine of all her earthly dwellings places I had a letter
from Prof Butler of Madison last month saying that he was about to start for California by railroad in Company with his son
Henry a man of war by the name title of General Alvord requesting are to join the company in visiting Yo Sem' - The Big Trees
etc. I may be able to meet him in the Valley I mean to go down into the Valley tomorrow seize this opportunity of sending
you a line We mean to move our sheep in a few days twelve miles higher among the summits on the South fork of the Tuolumne
We will likely reach the plains the open world again about Oct 1st A few months will Call upon me to decide to what portion
of Gods glorious star I will next turn. The sweets of home - the