13 



extent of prairie with great mountain regions as does Pike's 

 Peak, but for pure mountain scenery it is very grand. L. re- 

 turned to camp in the evening to find all the rest gone out 

 fishing, as the rumors of the excellent trout to be found in 

 the neighboring streams were not to be disregarded until 

 verified by even the most unscientifically inclined; 101 of 

 the speckled beauties were caught. M. caught three that 

 weighed nine pounds, one of them weighing three and a half 

 pounds. The principal trouble seemed to be the scarcity of 

 bait, as there was more trouble catching grasshoppers than 

 fish. Every one had fish for supper, and was happy. 



JULY 18, WEDNESDAY. 



Leaving camp at 9 A.M., we went on ten miles to River- 

 side, where we met Scott, Speir, and Osborn, who had left the 

 camp some days before on a fossil hunt. At this part of the 

 ride we entered the narrow part of the valley. The rocky 

 gorge down which the foaming river ran presented many 

 varied and picturesque aspects. We soon reached Granite, 

 another lifeless town. Getting our dinner there, we turned 

 to the left to visit the Twin Lake region. On our way up we 

 forded Lake Creek, where the water reached our horses' 

 flanks. At the Lakes we found a very primitive hotel with 

 cotton cloth partitions between the rooms, and a roof made 

 of the tins of tomato cans ; but it covered a very obliging 

 and good-hearted hostess, who did all in her power to make 

 it pleasant for us. These lakes lie at the foot of Mount 

 Elbert, and each of them covers about 200 acres. They are 

 plentifully supplied with an excellent variety of mountain 

 trout, on which we tried our skill with some success. 



JULY 19, THURSDAY. 



The various members of the party came straggling into 

 this camp during the day, and it was spent in various ways, 

 hunting and fishing. A council was held, at which it was 

 decided that General Karge, with the Palaeontologists, and 

 ourselves, should go to Fort Bridger in Wyoming Territory ; 

 the Palaeontologists to busy themselves in the neighboring 

 bad lands, and we to go into the Uintah Mountains for the 

 purpose of doing original topographical work. 



