BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 159 



The wagon road from the north ends at the outlet of the lake. If 

 one wishes to go farther he must proceed by boat, on foot, or with pack 

 horse. The trail follows the east shore. It is well travelled, and is 

 the only passageway from this region south to the headwaters of Swan 

 river. The trail is kept open by the forest rangers. One may follow it 

 to the headwaters, when it meets a wagon road. This may be followed 

 to the Big Blackfoot river, thence to Missoula. 



The upper half of Swan lake, the swamp at the upper end, and the 

 Swan river region mentioned above, lie in the Lewis and Clarke forest 

 reserve. The large timbered area included is therefore under the care 

 of the government, and very little cutting has been done. There are 

 several cabins along the shore of the lake, occupied by hardy pioneers 

 who occupied the land before the Forest Reserve act was made. As a 

 consequence there is little traffic on the lake. The boats are confined 

 to a few row boats owned by different individuals. 



During the summer of 1902 a party of thirty-one was ta^cen across the 

 lake to the upper end. A stay of several days was made in scientific 

 work. This party taxed the facilities of the region. All the available 

 boats on the lake were in use, as well as the canvas boat. 



On this occasion an ascent was made of Hall's peak. This is a small 

 and rugged rock pile rising out of a wooded slope with three separate 

 humps or shoulders. The altitude is about 7,250. The summit is a sharp 

 ridge, in several places barely wide enough to set foot for passage. On 

 either side it is precipitous. When the rocks are bare of snow the peak is 

 neither difficult nor dangerous to climb. It is necessary to skirt several 

 places where the slope is very steep. With snow there would be no footing. 

 When the surface is bare there is little trouble. It would probably be 

 impossible to ascend this summit when it is covered with snow. Those 

 who have reached it at such times report that they would not attempt 

 the feat. There were a few snow patches below the summit at the time 

 of our ascent, the last week in July. The view was very fine. The air 

 was comparatively clear. Clouds gathered and indicated a rainy descent, 

 but happily there was no rain. Among the party was Miss Pearl Ricker, 

 of DesMoines, who is the first and at this writing the only woman to 

 ascend this mountain. 



The mountain is wooded to the very summit, save where the rocks 

 have not disintegrated sufficiently to permit trees to grow. The few 

 stunted and gnarled alpine firs and white-bark pines were small, and 

 showed the great struggle they were making for an existence. Near the 

 sumanit there was great profusion of spring flowers. 



This peak stands out alone from the others in the range. It is con- 

 nected eastward by a ridge a thousand feet below the summit. Deep and 

 precipitous canyons separates it from the mountains on the north and 

 south. 



The mountain is not difficult of ascent, and the climb is devoid of in- 

 terest until the last 1,200 feet are reached. A trail leads from Bond's 

 cabin to the foot of the mountain. The climb is through dense timber, 

 up a wide mountain face where directions are difficult to follow without 

 the use of compass. There is no view in any directions save an occa- 



