Tue Ortrawa NATURALIST. [May 
Can 
iS} 
THE GLACIATION OF MOUNT ORFORD, P QO. 
By R, CHALMERS, LL.D. 
In a paper recently published by Prof. C. H. Hitchcock of 
Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H., on the Glaciation of the 
Green Mountains,* he brings up anew the question of the glacia- 
tion of Mount Orford, and reiterates his former belief that it 
was overridden by ice froin the Laurentides during the glacial period. 
As the writer ascended this mountain in 1896 and spent some time 
in an examination of its higher slopes and summit, the results of 
which led him to an entirely different conclusion, which is briefly 
stated in an official report issued in 4898,¢ a few remarks and 
explanations seem now to be required. 
Mount Orford is one of the isolated summits of the Sutton 
range, or north-east extension of the Green Mountains into Canada, 
and is situated near the northern end of Lake M2mphremagog. The 
altitude has been ascertained by the Geological Survey of Canada, 
‘Ells, Giroux and the writer) to be 2,860 feet above sea level. On 
the summit there are patches of bare rock. From the highest of 
these there is a magnificent view of the lake and surrounding 
country on a clear day. A flag-staff has been erected here for the 
guidance of mountain climbers, and a foot-path leads up to it on 
the south-west slope. 
In climbing this mountain I took a guide with me who was 
familiar with the trails, and instead of following the beaten path I 
went round to the north-west side mounting the slope along an 
untrodden route. My object in doing this was to observe the 
glaciation on the stoss, or struck side, and to ascertain how high 
the ice ascended it, and whether it really overrode the mountain 
top. Though we had a very difficult climb, through woods, and 
over ledges, boulders and fallen trees, the ascent was successfully 
accomplished. On the way up we noted striz and grooves, 
boulder-clay, and crystalline boulders, till we reached an elevation 
of about 1,800 feet. At a point 2,080 feet high, however, I ~ 
thought I detected grooves, but I see by my notes made on the 
spot, that they are marked doubtful. Above this no glacial marks, 
* Argos and Patriot Press, Montpelier, Vt. 1904. 
+ Annual Report, Geol. Survey of Canada, Vol. X, 1898, p. 30j and p. 46}. 
