ITINERARY. V 



P. O., at about 7,000 feet altitude and well within the 

 Pinus ponderosa zone. As will be seen from the Colorado 

 Forestry Commission map, this zone curves strongly to the 

 southeast, east of Durango, following the trend of the San 

 Juan range. The road up the Piedra valley is new and 

 extremely rough. An entire lack of bridges necessitated 

 fording the river many times. Frequently the wagon wheels 

 became wedged among the boulders of the river bed, com- 

 pelling the carrying out of the entire load through the ice 

 cold waters, by hand. Habenaria hyperborea was unex- 

 pectedly found about a cool spring in a dark shady gulch 

 near Piedra and a new Cypripedium at the same place. 



During the last of July a move was made to Pagosa 

 Springs (at about 7,100 feet) over a good road passing 

 through magnificent forests of Pinus ponderosa. The end 

 of these forests is in sight, their destruction being actively 

 under way now. The desolation caused by the lumberman 

 and the fires which follow in his wake, is an evidence of an 

 appalling lack of foresight, not possible in the more scienti- 

 fically enlightened countries. In a favorable year Pagosa 

 Springs would unquestionably be the most promising head- 

 quarters in southwestern Colorado for mountain botanizing. 

 It is the center of a wonderful region, many distinct topo- 

 graphical areas being readily accessible. The unusually fine 

 hot springs at this place attract many tourists through the 

 season. Above this point are some of the finest natural 

 meadows in the State. Under ordinary circumstances, at 

 this season of the year there is still much snow on the sur- 

 rounding mountains. But in 1899 none could be seen and 

 the terrible drought was at its height. Sheep and cattle 

 were hurried up from the lower levels, though many died 

 of hunger and thirst. The most striking plant at this point 

 was Rhamnus Smithii. 



