Uncle Donald was not to be defeated, however, and at once ordered a regular track, graded round the face of the bluffs, to be formed.  By using snow-shoes as shovels, and poles and brush for bridges, we crossed the intervening gullies and reached the edge of the first fall.  Going on a mile further, we found the river confined between perpendicular walls of rock, up which there was no climbing.  We had to form another path, carrying it over ledges of rock, banks of ice and snow, making bridges from one huge boulder to another with the dark water boiling at our feet ready to engulf any one who might make a false step.