MOUNT HYDE. 45 



water could be seen for a long stretch ahead. Sunday, the 9th, 

 twenty-five miles were made, the good rowing continuing, by burnt 

 lands, and banks over which many cascades tumbled. Monday, 

 the last day's advance in the boats was made, the water becom- 

 ing too swift to be stemmed, This day Gary got the second 

 ducking of the trip a very good record in view of the rough- 

 ness of the work and the smallness of the boats. During this 

 and the day previous an otter, a crow and a robin were seen. 

 As a rule the river was almost entirely deserted by animal life. 

 The next day the boat and the provisions, excepting a six 

 days supply carried in the packs, were carefully cached, and at 

 10:45 camp was left and the memorable tramp begun. Each 

 man carried about twenty-five pounds. The stream was 'followed 

 a short distance, then the abrupt ascent to the plateau climbed, 

 old river beaches being found all the way up. Ascending a 

 birch knoll,the river was in view for quite a long distance and a 

 large branch seen making in from the west. To the north the 

 highest mountain, in fact the only peak in the vicinity, was seen 

 towering up above the level plateau. Towards this peak, chris- 

 tened Mt. Hyde, the party tramped, and arriving at the top saw 

 the country around spread out like a map. Way off towards 

 the northwest a large lake was seen from which Grand River 

 probably flows, and nearer was a chain of small, shallow and 

 rocky ponds. The country is rocky, covered with deep moss 

 and fairly well wooded, with little underbrush. The wood is 

 all spruce save in the river valleys where considerable birch is 

 mixed in. The black flies were present in clouds, even in the 

 strong wind blowing at the top of Mt. Hyde, and made halt for 

 rest or any stop whatever intolerable. Leaving the mountain, 

 after taking bearings of all the points to be seen, the party 

 struck for the river and camped on the bank between the two 

 branches coming in from the westward, several miles apart. 

 The following day, with faces much swollen from fly bites of 

 the day before, the line of march was along the banks till 2 P. 

 M. when the upper fork was reached. 



The course of the river is southeast. This branch course is 

 from the northwest. The main stream turns off sharply to the 



