Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
197
Figure 6.15. Shaded-relief
map of the Gothic Moun-
tains, showing the loca-
tion of the camp in this
“most attractive of spots
the world over.” The camp
was erroneously located
on Blackburn's sketch map
(Station 9) to the south of
Mount Bruce Harkness and
the Organ Pipes. On that
map the camp should have
been spotted between the
Organ Pipes and Mount
Darryl Zanuck (compare
with Fig. 6.13).
The dogs were in bad condition and enjoyed lying about basking in the sun. After
dinner, while Paine and Russell wrote in their diaries and lounged, Blackburn skied over
into the small valley to the south of the Organ Pipe Peaks. As if constructed as a chapel to
the larger sanctuary, the vale led back to a faceted peak of dramatic continence, glimpsed
by the party on its way up to camp. As Blackburn glided along on his skis, the only sound
was the swooshing of the boards and the shushing of his breath. The sun shone low from
the western sky, illuminating the peaks in a glow of burnished gold. The central spire
cast its aura on the spot (Fig. 6.17). Blackburn stopped. His breathing lightened. Stillness
descended.
