My Side of the Mountain

Sam informs the reader that he’s almost reached his first snowstorm (which is where the story begins in Chapter 1). Before that happens, though, Sam gets to work chopping wood and stacking it in piles to last throughout the winter months. Sam sets up piles of wood in such a way to where he envisions being able to burrow through the snow to a new pile once the previous runs out. Sam feels relived when this much-anticipated first snowstorm arrives. He tells the reader, referring back to Chapter 1, “Now I am back where I began. I won’t tell it again, I shall go on now with my relief and the fun and wonderfulness of living on a mountain in winter” (113).

During these early days of winter, Sam ventures through the snow with Frightful, hunting, ice fishing at the now frozen creek, and digging through the snow to pick plants. Sam also enjoys having plenty of time to improve his cooking and create new meals. At the end of this chapter, Sam realizes that he’s not once made a tunnel to get to each pile of firewood; instead, he simply walks to the next pile in the same way The Baron Weasel and other animals walk on snow to get food.