8 BOTANICAL SURVEY OF THE CCEUR DALENE MOUNTAINS. 



(7,900 feet), and is therefore probably the highest point in the Caw 

 d'Alene region. 



The definite details of the configuration of the mountain system of 

 the Coeur d'Alenes are almost impossible to describe in terms that will 

 present a true picture to one personally unacquainted with the region. 

 There are, however, certain features which appear in all portions of the 

 system and which give to the whole a determinate character. We have 

 fust the very long, tortuous ridges extending from all sides of the in- 

 closing mountain rims into the interior of the Cumr d'Alene basins. 

 The sinuosities of these ridges are a repetition of those of the primary 

 inclosing divides, but on a smaller scale. We have next the wavy 

 crest line of the ridges, caused by a continual succession of saddles and 

 the opposite rises. A level crest line for a greater distance than one 

 kilometer is a rarity. We have next the system of lateral spurs radi- 

 ating from tlie rises and peaks of the ridges, and the ravines which 

 invariably head ou opposite sides of the saddles. The features of wavy 

 crest lines and lateral ravines and spurs heading in the saddles and 

 rises are repeated over and over again to the very smallest spur of the 

 system. It is this continual division and subdivision of the long 

 laterals, sent out from the primaries, that give the C<eur dAlenes the 

 peculiar broken character which is such a distinguishing feature of 

 their system. 



The laterals, where they abut upon the larger valleys, terminate 

 mostly in two ways— first, as a slender, low, attenuated point of rocks; 

 secondly, and by far the most often, as a broad front more or less cut 

 into by short ravines. The width of the base of the fronting part of 

 the spur is approximately equal to the length of spread of all its lateral 

 extensions. This feature is exceptionally well developed in the Xorth 

 Fork basin, and occurs there with great regularity. 



The peaks, so called, of the Coeur d'Alenes are not exactly the form 

 of mountain we are accustomed to call peaks. They are, in the majority 

 of instances, simply the rising swells of the ridge between the saddles. 

 Now and then a rocky eminence occurs which crowns the junction of 

 several great radiating spurs, and rises perhaps 200 to 300 meters (G50 

 to 1,000 feet) higher. In such cases they assume more truly the shape 

 we are used to associate with that word. One of the best examples of 

 the class is Wiessner Peak, situated on the divides between the South 

 Fork of the Cceur d'Alene and the St. .Joseph. The ridges of the 

 Coeur dAlenes are usually very steep, an angle of 40° being common. 

 Along the higher divides are many localities where the slopes run up 

 to 60° and even 70°. Perpendicular cliffs occur here and there. They 

 are most numerous near the main range of the Hitter Roots and along 

 the Clearwater divide. They are seldom over 250 meters (or about 

 820 feet) in height. An exception is found on the western slope of 

 the ridges which form the western side of the Cceur d'AJene triangle. 

 At the south end of Lake Pend Oreille are precipices having a slope 



