CHAPTER II 



ON THE SHEEP RANGES 1904 



July 1 6. From the mountain top I had traced the 

 course of the creek to a point about four miles above 

 camp, where it was lost behind an obstructing ridge 

 which projected at right angles to the main ranges. 

 There it was close to timber-line and evidently the main 

 divide was not far up the stream. We decided to advance 

 four miles, make a camp, and remain for a few days to 

 investigate the country. Though obliged to ford the 

 creek several times, we travelled mostly on the west 

 bank, on the way shooting some willow ptarmigan 

 beautiful birds even in their inconspicuous summer 

 plumage. Red-squirrels were more abundant as we pro- 

 ceeded, although the spruces became smaller. Three 

 miles from camp a large branch entered the creek, flow- 

 ing from the east between high mountain ranges. A mile 

 beyond this, where the main stream forked into two creeks 

 of equal volume, was a small meadow, about three hun- 

 dred feet wide, filled with excellent grass scattered among 

 the clumps of willow and dwarf birch. It was early in 

 the afternoon when we arrived, and some graylings were 

 caught while lunch was being cooked. 



At 3.30 we left camp, each taking a different direc- 

 tion to look for signs of game. I followed up the west 



