FIRST WESTERN EXPEDITION 



161 



and these white zigzag markings on the black basalt-debris 

 resembled so many white snakes ! 



The Davis Glacier snout was about six miles from the sea. 

 A range of mountains 4000 feet high blocked the upper end 

 of the U-shaped valley. I was very anxious to see whether 

 the glacier really came into the valley from some hidden angle, 

 for if not this glacier was of great interest. Here was a glacier 

 which could not be more than eight miles long, which had cut 

 out a valley 3000 feet deep and a mile or so broad. 



We separated here, Wright and the others taking the theo- 

 dolite up a 3000 feet hill to the south, while I went a couple 



Empty hanging valley, on north wall of the Davis Glacier, showing catenary 

 curve due to former glaciation, February 19, 191 1. 



of miles further into the range to see the head of the glacier. 



Everywhere were the signs of recent recession of the 

 Davis Glacier. First I had to cross the mouth of a side valley 

 opening 600 feet above the glacier. This was quite free from 

 ice, and was a perfect " bowl-valley " or cwm. On the opposite 

 side was another " hanging valley " at a lower elevation, with 

 a most symmetrical U-cross section. It was abruptly trun- 

 cated by the plane surface (35 ) of the marble cliffs under 

 Salmon Peak. I now climbed round the top of a cliff of ice 

 which descended smoothly for 1000 feet to the glacier at an 

 angle of 30 . After ascending over many outcrops of lime- 

 stone schist, granite, and basic dykes, I reached the head of 

 the glacier and saw that it originated in a cwm about three 



M 



