THE TRIP TO THE OGILVIE ROCKIES 19 



In exceptional places, where the rock has not been 

 exposed, lichens extend clear to the summits. Here and 

 there on the slopes, in the basins, and under the cliffs, the 

 grass was green. Mosquitoes swarmed on the slopes a 

 short distance above the creek. But where the sheep were 

 we failed to see, though again and again we paused to 

 search the country through our field-glasses. It rained 

 hard all day, and for the first time we were soaked. Ex- 

 cept for short stretches here and there along the river, 

 where the spring floods had washed out the moose trails, 

 the travelling was good, the ground hard, the trails well 

 beaten. The fords were easier though more frequent. We 

 made camp at six on the bank of the creek, between tower- 

 ing mountains on both sides. Across from camp the 

 mountains were particularly rough, and perpendicular 

 cliffs rose to a great height, forming peaks. 



After supper Rungius went out to sketch a bit of 

 landscape, Osgood to climb a mountain, and I to look 

 for game. I followed up the river for four miles, care- 

 fully scanning the mountains through field-glasses, but saw 

 no animals. Here and there along the river banks were 

 diggings where a bear had hunted the ground-squirrels, 

 which, as we ascended to the higher country, were now 

 beginning to appear. Osgood had found old sheep dung 

 on the mountain, thus demonstrating the presence of 

 sheep at some time, but both he and Rungius were a little 

 discouraged at seeing no recent sign. 



As I returned I heard a constant chirping not far 

 above camp and, approaching, saw a hawk-owl sitting 

 in a tree. These owls were quite common everywhere 



