BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 167 



Between Dodge mountain and Silloway peak is a deep canyon with. 

 steep sides. This is recognized as Wilson creek. On the northeastern 

 side of Dodge mountain, low down, is a beautiful lake. Dodge lake. Be- 

 tween Dodge mountain and the slope leading down from MacDougal peak, 

 northwest of Dodge mountain, is another lake, Sylvan lake. Its banks are 

 abrupt on all sides except the outlet. In the wooded bench to the 

 northeast of Sylvan lake may be found many smaller lakes, to which no 

 names have been given. 



From the notch before mentioned and from the crest of the ridge 

 leading up to MacDougal peak a bench slopes off eastward. This is a 

 beautiful park like slope, with a carpet of alpine flowers and beautiful 

 though dwarfed trees. This is called Sylvan slope. The trail before 

 mentioned traverses it for some distance, hugging the base of the ridges. 



Sylvan slope is wooded by the same trees that grow on the higher sum- 

 mits. The two most abundant trees are the white-bark pine, Pinus albi- 

 caulis Engl., and the Alpine fir, Abies lasiocarpa Hook. In protected 

 places these trees grow to a beautiful shape. They are usually limbed to 

 the ground, the larger and longer limbs at the base. Succeeding limbs 

 taper gradually to the summit or tip of the tree. The limbs are bent 

 downward with the weight of snow during many winters. In most cases 

 they make an acute angle with the trunk of the tree. 



On the exposed slopes and summits the trees are torn and twisted, 

 stunted and gnarled, almost limbless, with tops broken off, and roots ex- 

 posed. They are subject to extremes of heat and cold, moisture and 

 drouth. 



Strong gales from different directions sweep the summits and ridges. 

 The winds blow with fury. They turn and twist the trunks until they 

 are miisshapen and unsightly. But still the trees survive. Their mangled 

 limbs and broken trunks are silent witnesses to the fierce struggle through 

 which they have passed. 



The contrast between the exposed and protected trees is very great, 

 as may be seen by consulting the plates. Sylvan slope is an ideal region. 

 To spend a night there is to have the feeling of perfect rest and peace. 

 No one can forget the beautiful trees, the marked contrast between flow- 

 ers and snow, water and sky, lakes and cliffs, roaring water falls and 

 murmuring pines, barren rocks and mossy banks, or can blot from mem- 

 ory the magniflcence of a night when the moon is at is full and the sky 

 is clear. 



There are many of these benches, made by faulting in the uplift, be- 

 tween the crest and the South Fork river. They are long, steep, and 

 heavily timbered, enclosing many lakes, and holding large masses of snow. 

 Sylvan lake is reached by passing down the slope eastward immediately 

 after passing through the notch in the main ridge. It is yet unexplored 

 zoologically. 



The trail follows Sylvan slope for some distance, a couple of hours 

 walk. Even in July and August there are large snow banks in the ravines 

 along the slope. An admirable oportunity for study of alpine flora is 

 presented in this fleld. The trail then drops abruptly over the ridges 

 and down a very steep bank for more than a thousand feet to another 

 beautiful lake. This we called Placid lake. 



