THE .MOrXTAIXKEK 34 



These vertical strata ,i;ive the raiijies the remarkably sharp, I'au.ucd 

 outline so familiar to us. Sheer precipices of frou) 1.0(10 to 2,000 feet of 

 nacked rock are ceiiiii!(:ii, and cveiywhere the ru<iiied character of the sides 

 is beyond description. 



Weatherino' and frost etfects are noticeably absent. This, with the 

 extreme sharpness of the ranges, the unworn beds of the streams, the 

 canyons where streams have folloAved fissures, the cascades over soft tilted 

 slate, in fact everything about the mountains, indicates their youth. 



Some coarse granite boulders, evidently glacial, are mentioned as found 

 in Goblin Canyon. 



White ((uai'tz veins of varying thickness are al)undant in places. 



The crater-like form of many of the })eaks was found in every case 

 investigated to be due only to the fantastic breaking of the vertical strata. 



No Lciva. Enure absence of lava or any other volcanic matter except 

 traj) is one of the characteristics of the whole region explored. 



Flora. As a whole, the mountains are well tindx'red. Hemlock, fir. 

 spruce, cedar and pine are the chief varieties. In the interior of the moun- 

 tains much cedar of large size was found at an elevation of from 3,000 to 

 4,000 feet. In general, fir, spruce and balsam are found on the mountain 

 sides below 4, COO feet. Al)ove 4,000 feet the mountains are eithei' bare oi- 

 the timber is the liardy, close-grained varieties of fir. In Press Valley tiicrc 

 is considerable white and yellow pine. 



On the Elwha the tindier is generally good, and would average four 

 to five million feet to the ((uarter section. The trees were medium size, 

 tall, straight and perfectly healthy. 



On the Quiniault the timber is good as far as the Alexander River, 

 but is poor al)ove that. There is almost no grass in the movnitains, a little 

 on the lower Elwha. The "bunch-grass country" within the Olympics 

 is a myth. Oregon graj)e and ground laurel furnish an excellent substitute 

 for the pasturage of pack animals. They are abundant. 



Salmon berries, raspberries, blackberries, sti-awberries and cranber- 

 ries are very abundant, and in some places also the kinnikinick berries. 



Fauna. As to the game, the mountains are full of elk, which are usually 

 ([uite tame. Deer are plentiful. One goat Avas seen by the party. Owing 

 to the time of year and the severity of the season, only a few grouse and 

 pheasants were seen. Undoubtedly they are abundant. Beaver were 

 numerous in the Quiniault, and black bear are i)lentiful. One track of a 

 cinnamon bear was seen. Cougars, wild cat and wolves are connnon. 



The party most of the time was abundantly supplied with gam(\ but 

 occasionally there would be several days when nothing was in sight. 



Minerals. The severity of the weather and the depth of the snow jire- 

 vented much prospecting. No gold was found in the Elwha. although up- 

 yards of a dozen bars were washed. 



Promising looking (piartz was found, but without gold. Silver was 

 found in a ledge (^f I'ock, and indications of silvei- wert' often seen. Silver 

 was found on the up])er Quiniault, but no gold. The rivei' sand was not 

 prospected, however. 



On both sides of the mountain oxide of iron was seen. Xo coid was found 

 ujion either the Elwha or Quiniault. (ialena was found in the silver rock. 

 No traces of copper or tin wer(^ found. 



So far as prospected, silvei- seems to be Ihe pi'incipal iiiineral of the 

 Olympics. The silver beai'ing i-o(d\ found in the ledge was four feet thick. 



