AMONG THE MOUNTAINS 35 



Big Lake lies at an altitude of nearly nine 

 thousand feet above sea level and has practically 

 a northern Canadian climate. Even at this mid- 

 summer season we experienced hoar frost the 

 night we camped upon its shores. Directly sur- 

 rounding the lake is a semi-barren stretch, punc- 

 tured with innumerable prairie-dog holes, over 

 which could be seen many prowling coyotes 

 looking for prey. 



Here was the headquarters of the one-time 

 famous S. U. outfit, an immense cattle ranch, 

 and on the east side of the lake rise two knolls 

 known as the S. U. knolls. The ranch buildings 

 and corrals have fallen to decay. 



This is not far from the territorial boundary 

 line between Arizona and New Mexico, and 

 directly east of us rose the San Francisco range 

 and north of us the rugged and picturesque Es- 

 cudilla Peaks. Our trail carried us to the edge 

 of the Prieto Plateau, then northward again into 

 a magnificently timbered and well-watered re- 

 gion, where we rose from pine to spruce and 

 quaking aspens. Here were innumerable fresh 

 deer tracks, and once we came upon the newly 

 made track of a large bear. Spruce grouse, too, 

 are quite plentiful after one reaches the line 

 of spruce trees, and many turkey feathers told us 

 we were in a wild turkey country. 



