[ERMATINGER] YORK FACTORY EXPRESS JOURNAL 129 
three miles broad, dry at this season, but during the summer forming an 
inland lake, bounded by the mountains. Our course was afterwards due 
East for four miles, and in this short distance we made seven fordings 
more. We did not require snow-shoes here, as there was a fine hard 
solid crust, but on coming out of the water and trotting along on the 
hoar-frost, we found it intensely cold, and all our clothing that was wet, 
immediately became cased with ice; still no inconvenience of any con- 
sequence was sustained. About nine we entered another point of wood, 
where we had recourse to our snow-shoes, and finding the snow becom- 
ing quite soft towards noon, we camped for the day, having travelled 
fifteen miles. Panazx horrida (Hook. Fl. Bor, Am.t. 98), a Dryas, and a 
Betula, were the only plants I had added to my catalogue; at night 
a large Wolverine came to our camp to steal, for which he was shot. We 
saw great numbers of Anas Canadensis, and one female of Tetrao Cana- 
densis. 
On Monday the 30th the heat was just the same as the day before, 
our elevation was seven hundred feet above the river. The route lay 
through a wood and a valley precisely similar to those we had passed 
yesterday, and during a walk of two miles and a half, we were obliged 
to ford the river seven times, keeping in a direct line from point to point. 
Four more miles, and as many times crossing the river, brought us to 
the termination of this platform or valley, and here the stream parts 
into two branches, the larger one flowing from the North, the other from 
due East. We crossed at the angle between the two streams, and 
commenced our ascent of the Big Hill. The snow being so deep, at 
least six feet, the markings on the trees which indicated the path were 
frequently hid, and we found it no easy matter to keep the track. 
The steep ascent, the deep gullies, the brushwood and fallen timber, 
rendered walking very laborious. We encamped two miles up the hill, 
having gained five miles to-day. The timber gradually becoming 
smaller, no new plants or animals were added to our store. 
May st, Tuesday. This morning the thermometer stood at 2° 
below Zero, and the maximum heat at noon was 44°. We continued 
ascending, and had the satisfaction at ten to reach the summit, where 
we made a short pause to rest ourselves, and then descended the eastern 
side of the Big Hill, to a small round open piece of ground, through which 
flowed the smaller or East branch of the river, being the same as we had 
left yesterday at the western base of the Big Hill. To the right is a 
small point of low stunted wood of Pinus nigra, alba, and Banksiana. 
Near this place we started at mid-day a fine male specimen of T'etrao 
Franklinii, which I preserved with great care. Being well rested by one 
o'clock, I set out with the view of ascending what seemed to be the 
highest peak on the North. Its height does not appear to be less 
