BIOLOGICAL, RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 9T 



The Mission Mountains. 



The Mission range is familiar to all old-timers of the State of Mon- 

 tana. Its snow-clad peaks appear suddenly before the eye as the traveler 

 reaches the crest of the hill above Selish, the railroad station on the 

 Northern Pacific where the traveler leaves the train and takes the stage 

 for the mountains, Flathead lake, or Kalispell. The first view is one of 

 grand comparisons, with the broad and beautiful valley in the foreground, 

 the majestic peaks of the Mission range behind, while in the direction 

 opposite rise the rugged Cabinets, the abrupt and pointed Squaw peak 

 being the most conspicuous. 



No one can see the Mission range without bursting into exclamations 

 of surprise and admiration. A view is given in Plate XIX. The high, 

 snow-capped, jagged peaks, rising abruptly from the valley, usually shad- 

 owed by clouds whose lower strata obscure the higher peaks, offer such 

 decided contrast to the level valley that the comparison is very notice- 

 able. 



The range is about 75 miles long, the higher peaks being on the south- 

 ern end. The range slopes gradually down to a lower altitude northward, 

 finally ending as a range at the Swan or Bigfork river. 



Very few of the peaks in the range have received names, though most" 

 of them are large enough and of sufficient importance to be named. Mc- 

 Donald peak is the only one with a name recognized as belonging to a 

 definite height. McLeod peak is a well established peak on the south- 

 ern end of the range, and has been one of the points used in triangulation 

 by the United States Geological Survey for many years. McLeod peak is 

 south of the Jocko river. Big peak is another name given to one of the 

 heights opposite the peninsula at Flathead lake. But the particular 

 height to which the name is applicable is not definitely established. 

 Aside from these three, and a fourth on the map a little north of Mc- 

 Donald and called Teton, none of the peaks in the range have names. 

 Since the work in this region was undertaken the necessity for naming 

 many of the peaks, lakes, and points of interest has become apparent, and 

 some suggestions have been made. 



Mention was made of the fact that the Mission range was cut in 

 twain by the Jocko river. Immediately north of the river is a high point, 

 very conspicuous, and without a name. The name suggested for this is 

 Sinyaleamin, an Indian name meaning "surrounded." Years ago the 

 Flathead and Blackfeet Indians had a fight on the banks of the creek 

 having its source in this mountain, with the result that the Blackfeet 

 were surrounded and exterminated. The Indians made reference to this 

 in naming the creek "Sinyaleamin," afterwards changed to Mission. As 

 the mountain mentioned had up to this time no name the name Sin- 

 yaleamin has been given to it. Plate XX gives a view of this mountain. 

 It is also seen on the right in Plate XIX. East of Sinyaleamin, and ap- 



