The tour runs between hills which, except for the most precipitous slopes, were planted to wheat and barley. Furrows at right angles to the slope, strip farming, and gully-control measures were evidence of the growing interest in soil conservation. A few of the steeper slopes were used for cattle range. For several miles, the railroad tracks parallelled the highway and during harvest season, freight trains labor by in a succession of red box cars and yellow refrigerator cars.

The tour dips and climbs through mile after mile of farmland, that was once largely planted to winter wheat.

These chinook winds may be expected every winter throughout the Inland Empire. For days the country will be held in the iron grip of cold; snow crackles underfoot; and at night the aurora borealis flashes overhead. Then, almost without warning, comes the chinook, usually at night. There is a low moaning sound, as of a prolonged sigh; the air seems alive. Water drips from the eaves of houses, and icicles shatter on the walk below. When morning comes the snow, which a few short hours before had glittered with blinding light, is sodden, turning to rivulets before the eyes. Sometimes as suddenly as the temperature rose, it drops again, as the wind veers from the west to northeast. Then the melting of the snow is halted, and streets and sidewalks are covered with treacherously corrugated ice.