ROUTE TO BAYOU 8ALDAX. 



287 



■even] inches, but the lapse of a few hours served to disclose the bar* 

 ▼egetation of tlie valleys, and denuded spots upon the mountain sides. 



Again en route, we continued up a large stream from the south and struck 

 into a broad trail, which led through large openings and forests of aspen 

 across the main mountain chain, to the waters of Grand river, into a beaux 

 tiful valley known as the Old Park, where we remained encamped the two 

 days subsequent. 



Our nearest route to Fort Lancaster would have been by C^che a la 

 Poudre, or Long's Peak ; but, accumulating snows admonished us to aban^ 

 don the Atlantic side of tlie mountains for a more southern latitude. 



The country in the vicinity of the Old Park is highly interesting. It em- 

 braces a large tract of fertile territory, well watered and timbered, but more 

 or less undulating, and is hemmed in by high mountains, which are clothed 

 with laieral forests of pine, cedar, and aspen. 



This valley ranges from cast to west ; and, heading at the base of Long's 

 Peak, finds its opposite extremity at the caiion by which Grand river 

 emerges through the opposing barriers of mountain spurs. 



The Old Park also, like the New, receives its appellation from the great 

 abundance of game for which it is celebrated. 



CHAPTER XXVIU. 



from Grand river to Bayou Saiade.— Obsarvations by the way. — Description of tha 

 Bayou. — Voracity of magpies. — ^.loiirney to Cherry creek. — Country en route. — 

 Crystal creek. — Abundance of game,.— Antelope iiuniuig. — Remarkable sagacity of 

 wo'ves. — Snow storms and ainusement. — liavens. — Move camp. — Comfortable win- 

 ter quarters. — Animal food conducive to general health and longevity.— A laugha- 

 bla instance of sound sleeping. — Astonishing wolinie rapacity. — Beaver lodges and 

 all about beaver. — Hunting excursion.— Va-sque's creek, \ta valleys, table lands, 

 mountains, and prairies. — Camp. — Left alone. — Sensations, and care to avoid dan- 

 jer. — A nocturnal visitor. — Thrilling adventure and narrow escape. — A lofty spec* 

 men of'gettin down stairs." — Geological statistics. 



While camped at the Old Park, I improved the opportunity for ranging 

 among the adjacent mountains, whose stern recesses disclosed many smil- 

 ing beauty-spots. The weather continued pleasant, though somewhat colder 

 than usual ; and, notwithstanding the snow in places lay quite deep, it had 

 acquired great sohdity and compactness. 



On the 10th of December we were again under way. 



Crossing Grand river and continuing up a southern tributary, through a 

 a narrow defile of mountains, to a large valley formed at tlie junction of 

 three principal branches, known us La Bonte's-hole, and choosing the micU 

 die one, we proceeded to its head, — thence, passing the dividing ridge by a 

 well-beaten boflalo trail, te tlis right of Long's Peak, on tE« 16th wt 



