Chapter 8 Summary

Ray and Japhy sit on the grass and wait for Morley, who goes off in search of a sleeping bag. After what seems like hours, Morley returns without a bag. They complete their drive to the trailhead, and Morley rents a few blankets from the trail's lodge house. They then walk four miles over level ground near a mountain lake and notice several bulldozers leveling the ground in the area. They arrive at the trailhead and buy candy and drinks at a small trail shop. This is the last shop before the real hiking begins.

Morley remembers that he did not drain his automobile's crankcase. Ray tells him to forget it, but Morley realizes if the night is cold, the water in the crankcase will freeze and ruin the transmission. Ray tells him to forget it anyway, but Morley decides to walk the...