IN THE MINING DISTRICT 211 



eras, tlie central point for the numerous surrounding 

 mining camps. We rested ourselves here for about an 

 hour, and then began to ascend the opposite side from 

 where we had entered. We followed now a well traveled 

 trail which led us up the steep Pilot Peak. This peak 

 rises about 800 feet above the bottom of "Onion Valley" 

 and ends in two sharp cones, which on account of their 

 peculiar form make it a very conspicuous landmark from 

 a great distance. Milleson and Adams, two American 

 surveyors, give the height of the peak as 12,500 feet 

 above sea level. Our trail led us to within 15 feet of the 

 summit, and this was the highest point I have ever vis- 

 ited. From here it was an uninterrupted descent, follow- 

 ing a ridge between two deep gulches; one of them the 

 Poorman's Creek, which in a semicircle sweeps the 

 other side of the Pilot Peak. From the dizzy height on 

 which we stood this stream, as it appeared here and there 

 between the dark, pine covered ridges, looked like a thin 

 thread of silver. 



It was 5 o'clock when we arrived at Hopkinsville, a 

 small mining town at the confluence of Poorman's and 

 Hopkins' Creeks, and at 7 o'clock we reached my pres- 

 ent home, a loghouse a full mile below Hopkinsville on 

 Nelson Creek. (Hopkins Creek flows into Nelson Creek 

 a few hundred yards above our abode.) We were not 

 slow in throwing down our bundles and doing justice to 

 supper, which we found awaiting us. 



I am pleased with the aspect of the country. Accord- 

 ing to my estimate — uncertain at best, I know — our log- 

 house on Nelson Creek must be nearly on the same ele- 

 vation with Grass Valley, and certainly considerably be- 

 low "Onion Valley." The climate is mild and pleasant; 

 the air is very pure J snow is to be seen only 400 or 500 

 feet above us on top of the ravine where, however, it 

 never entirely disappears; even not during the heat of 

 summer. I am justified in calling this a ravine and not 

 a valley, because the lower end is so narrow that the bed 

 of this rushing stream takes up the whole width of it; 

 the hills on both sides being more or less densely covered 

 with 6rs. 



16 



