166 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 



bered region, with no view out, and to strike the main slope without more 

 or less wandering is practically impossible, except when the view is 

 open, which is rarely the case. But when the trail reaches the mountain 

 slope and takes the ridge it goes directly up. The ascent is easy, but in 

 several places quite steep. The first summit is at an altitude of 

 6,750 feet, approximately. This summit is the end of a spur from the 

 main peak, connected with it by a long ridge. Between this summit 

 and the main ridge farther east is a large amphitheater, wood mostly 

 with black pine, and filled with snow until middle July. The trail follows 

 the spur ridge for some distance, then drops off into the amphitheater and 

 across to the notch in the ridge to the east, passing over much large 

 and loose talus. It may be of value to travelers over the pass to know- 

 that just before making the steep ascent to the notch, in middle or late 

 summer when the snow is gone, water may be had in abundance by fol- 

 lowing the dry water course down a few rods, where a large spring 

 affords abundance of water. As this is the only water between the foot 

 of the mountain at starting and the first lake beyond the notch its 

 location in late summer is very important to mountain climbers. 



Passing through the notch the trail thins out, and for a short dis- 

 tance is not easy to follow. It turns to the left. By following the base 

 of the summit ridge it is not difficult to find it a few hundred yards ahead. 



In ascending MacDougal peak the mountaineer does not follow the 

 trail when it leaves the ridge before mentioned, although he may do so 

 and later follow up the ridge from the notch. Instead the ridge is fol- 

 lowed, until late in summer over snow banks. When the main ridge 

 is reached, it is followed to the summit. On the eastern face of the 

 ridge is an immense snow and ice mass which remains all summer, and 

 which seems to have a little glacial movement. At the foot of the 

 glacier is a small lake which is named Blue lake on account of the color 

 of the water, which appears deep blue. 



On the summit, altitude 7,725 is a U. S. G. S. triangulation stone 

 monument. The view from this summit is superb, and the geology 

 of the region may be studied to good advantage. Without duplicating 

 descriptions the reader is referred to Plate XXXVII, which gives the view 

 west and southwest, with explanations; to Plate XXXVIII, showing tha 

 backbone of the continent, the view being to the northeast. The mount- 

 ain in the foreground is Dodge mountain, named in honor of Wm. E. 

 Dodge, who has made large contributions toward the study of Montana 

 flora; Plate XXXI shows the view to the southeast. Silloway peak is the 

 double peak. Craig mountain is on the right. Silloway lake lies be- 

 hind the double peak. Wolf creek takes its source in the depression 

 seen between Silloway peak and Craig mountain. 



In Plate XXXI four lakes are visible. In the foreground the larger one 

 is MacDougal lake. The outlet is to the right, through Fulton creek. 



On the summit of MacDougal peak were found large numbers of lady- 

 bird beetles. Hippocampus 13-signata, found on most of the summits with 

 loose rock from Washington far east into Montana. 



Dodge mountain has been traversed from end to end, and many rare 

 botanical specimens secured. 



