ALPINE VEGETATION IN THE VICINITY OF LONG'S 



PEAK, COLORADO 



William S. Cooper 



(with eight figures) 



This paper is the result of observations made during the summers 

 of 1904 and 1906. It makes no pretensions to completeness, but is 

 intended to serve as a general survey of an intensely interestmg 

 region. It is the intention of the author immediately to begin 



a more extensive and detailed study. 



My thanks are due, first of all, to Dr. E. N. Transeau of the 

 Charleston (111.) Normal School, and to Dr. D. S. Johnson and 

 Dr. Charles K. Swartz, of Johns Hopkins University, for- many 

 valuable suggestions ; also to Dr. Aven Nelson, of the University of 



Wyoming, for determination of plants. 



graphy 



The Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, which in the vicinity 

 of Long's Peak constitutes the continental di\-ide, is a rugged mass 

 car\'ed from the Archean granite and gneiss. South of Long's Peak, 

 which is an eastern projecting spur therefrom, its direction is nearly 

 north and south, and it stands about 24^^ west of the eastern border 

 of the mountain region. North of Long's Peak it turns to the north- 

 west, and continues in this direction for a distance of 24^"^, until it 

 meets the Medicine Bow and Rabbit Ear Ranges; the continental 

 divide is continued in the latter range. At the eastern base of the 

 Front Range, Just north of Long's Peak, lies Estes Park, a mountain 



'alley which here separates the main range from the lower forest-clad 

 mountains toward the east. Estes Park lies at an altitude of 2285"^; 

 the average ahitude of the divide is 3810"; most of the peaks exceed 

 3900", and Long's Peak attains an altitude of 435o'"- 



The locaHties studied are on the summit and eastern flank of the 

 Front Range, from Mt. Tyndall, 6.4^- south of Long's Peak, to 

 Stone's Peak, 16^"^ northwest. Particular attention was given to two 

 glacial canons: the Chasm Lake canon, immediately below the cast 

 face of Long's Peak; and Glacier Gorge, west of the same mountam. 



319] [Botanical Gazette, vol. 45 



