PLATEAU MOUNTAIN 145 



and a calf and followed them until the trail descended into 

 a basin, when, looking across it, they were observed feed- 

 ing on the opposite slopes near the summit. The calf 

 fed quite independently of its mother, who neither looked 

 up from her feeding nor appeared suspicious of danger, 

 or paid the least attention to the calf when it strayed to a 

 distance from her. After circling, I took up the sheep 

 tracks and again followed them north to a point where 

 the trail turned to the west. Following it, I crossed 

 gullies, rocky slopes, basins, and ridges, until I could 

 see the trail on the snow, two miles ahead. Then I 

 knew that it was necessary to turn back or I would be 

 caught on the summit in the dark, a long distance from 

 camp. 



Unfortunately, I had no protection for my ears, which 

 were frozen several times and rubbed soft again. After 

 ascending to the east slopes of the moutain, I found abun- 

 dant fresh moose tracks, all leading to a depression near 

 the top which was the apex of several willow-filled ravines. 

 Below was a large draw extending down between two 

 mountains to the timber. The mountain-slopes on both 

 sides were covered with willows, and moose tracks were 

 numerous everywhere among them. There was a fine 

 view of Moose Lake a fairly large sheet of water. It 

 was not frozen and appeared to glisten all over, shining 

 out of the vast deep forest about it. Its outlet, Moose 

 Creek, was visible, flowing in a meandering course 

 through the timber to the MacMillan River. Beyond 

 the wide forest was a series of high, rugged ranges 

 bordering the Stewart River. 



