10 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



of the range, are capped with, metamorphic slates, 

 among which are Mounts Dana and Gibbs to the 

 east of Yosemite Valley. Mount Whitney, the cul 

 minating point of the range near its southern ex 

 tremity, lifts its helmet-shaped crest to a height 

 of nearly 14,700 feet. Mount Shasta, a colossal vol 

 canic cone, rises to a height of 14,440 feet at the 

 northern extremity, and forms a noble landmark 

 for all the surrounding region within a radius of a 

 hundred miles. Residual masses of volcanic rocks 

 occur throughout most of the granitic southern por 

 tion also, and a considerable number of old volca 

 noes on the flanks, especially along the eastern base 

 of the range near Mono Lake and southward. But 

 it is only to the northward that the entire range, 

 from base to summit, is covered with lava. 



From the summit of Mount Whitney only granite 

 is seen. Innumerable peaks and spires but little 

 lower than its own storm-beaten crags rise in 

 groups like forest-trees, in full view, segregated by 

 canons of tremendous depth and ruggedness. On 

 Shasta nearly every feature in the vast view speaks 

 of the old volcanic fires. Far to the northward, in 

 Oregon, the icy volcanoes of Mount Pitt and the 

 Three Sisters rise above the dark evergreen woods. 

 Southward innumerable smaller craters and cones 

 are distributed along the axis of the range and on 

 each flank. Of these, Lassen's Butte is the highest, 

 being nearly 11,000 feet above sea-level. Miles of 

 its flanks are reeking and bubbling with hot springs, 

 many of them so boisterous and sulphurous they 

 seem ever ready to become spouting geysers like 

 those of the Yellowstone. 



