40 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 
glaciers. Again: the peaks on both these summits rise higher and higher as 
we go toward the upper or southern end of the lake. Hence the largest gla- 
ciers ran into the lake at its southwestern end. And, since the mountain slopes 
here are towards the northeast and therefore the shadiest and coolest, here 
also the glaciers have had the greatest vitality and lived the longest, and have, 
therefore, left the plainest record. Doubtless, careful examination would 
discover the pathways of glaciers running into the lake from the eastern sum- 
mits also; but I failed to detect any very clear traces of such, either on the 
eastern or on the northern portion of the western side of the lake; while 
between the southwestern end and Sugar Pine Point, a distance of only eight 
or ten miles, I saw distinctly the pathways of five or six. North of Sugar Pine 
Point there are also several They are all marked by moraine ridges running 
down from the summits and projecting as points into the lake. The pathways 
of three of these glaciers I studied somewhat carefully, and after a few pre- 
liminary remarks, will describe in some detail. 
Mountains are the culminating points of the scenic grandeur and beauty 
of the earth. They are so, because they are also the culminating points of all 
geological agencies—igneous agencies in mountain formation, aqueous agencies 
in mountain sculpture. Now, I have already said that the mountain peaks 
which stand above the lake on every side, are highest at the southwestern 
end, where they rise to the altitude of 3,000 feet above the lake surface, or be- 
tween 9,000 and 10,000 feet above the sea. Here, therefore, ran in the great- 
est glaciers, here we find the profoundest glacial sculpturings, and here also 
are clustered all the finest beauties of this the most beautiful of mountain 
lakes. I need only name Mt. Tallac, Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Lake, and 
Emerald Bay, all within three or four miles of each other and of the Tallac 
House. These three exquisite little lakes, (the Emerald Bay is also almost a 
lake) nestled closely aguinst the loftiest peaks of the western summit ridge, 
are all perfect examples of glacial lakes. 
South of Lake Tahoe, Lake Vailey extends for fifteen miles as a plain, 
gently rising southward. At its lower end it is but a tew feet above the lake 
surface, covered with glacial drift modified by water, and diversified, especially 
on its western side, by débris ridges, the moraines of glaciers which continued 
to flow into the valley or into the lake long after the main glacier, of which 
they were once tributaries, had dried up. On approaching the south end of 
the lake by steamer, I had observed these long ridges, divined their meaning, 
and determined on a closer acquaintance. While staying at the Tallac House 
I repeatedly visited them, and explored the canons down which their materials 
were brought. I proceed to describe them. 
Fallen Leaf Lake (lacier.—Fallen Leaf Lake (see map) lies on the 
plain of Lake Valley, about one a half miles from Lake Tahoe, its surface 
but a few feet above the level of the latter lake, but its bottom far, probably 
several hundred feet, below that level. It is about three to three and one-half 
miles long and one and one-fourth miles wide. From its upper end runs a 
cation bordered on either side by the highest peaks in thisregion. The rocky ~ 
walls of this canon terminate on the east side at the head of the lake, but on 
the west side, a little further down. The lake is bordered on each side by an 
