CHICHAGOF COVE 73 



the latter information proved to be incorrect the first may 

 also well have been so. 



Behind the sand spit and between the two ridges which 

 terminate in East Point and West Point respectively, lies a 

 broad flat valley, partly occupied by a shallow lake of 

 brackish water subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, and 

 partly by a level meadow which stretches back fully two 

 miles from the sand spit. The hills rise abruptly and in 

 places precipitately on all sides of the meadow, reaching 

 at the highest point, called Chichagof Peak, an elevation 

 estimated at not less than 3,000 feet. Several narrow 

 V-shaped valleys open into the main valley from the east 

 and several small streams cascade down the cliffs at its 

 head. 



The crest of the range was reached at but one point, a 

 col directly behind Chichagof Peak. The summit here 

 opens out to a plateau, broadening eastward and covered 

 with snowfields, but to the north narrow and deeply dis- 

 sected by streams flowing for the most part to the north. 

 What seemed to be the waters of Port Moller were seen 

 to the northwest, but of this I could not be quite sure. 



West of Chichagof Valley and between it and the next 

 deep cove to the west are four high and narrow ridges 

 trending northwest, enclosing three small streams flowing 

 southward. 



The region is devoid of trees, but the lowlands are 

 everywhere covered with a growth of high dense grass. 

 Along the streams are willow thickets, and on many of the 

 slopes are patches of low alder bushes. Above 1,000 feet 

 elevation the vegetation is confined to scattering herba- 

 ceous plants, and the rocks are free from soil and well ex- 

 posed. A curious feature of the talus slopes was observed 

 on the gently sloping ridges near the upper limit of abun- 

 dant grass growth. The ridge crests are minutely and 

 quite regularly terraced, the terraces contouring the ridge 



