10 o8] 



COOPER— ALPINE VEGETATION IN COLORADO 



2>n 



(figs- 3-(^ 



At their lower ends are found series of terminal moraines 



and for some distance up there are extensive lateral moraines. The 

 floors of the canons, except for an occasional small terminal moraine, 

 are nearly bare of morainic material, such as is present being an 

 exceedingly sparse scattering of single bowlders. The floors are very 

 smooth, frequently almost polished, and are marked. by the usual 



scratches and striae. Roches moutonnees are 



numerous but not 



prominent. At intervals are found the great "steps" mentioned 

 above, where were the ice falls of the glaciers. At their bases are 



J 



Fig. 4-— Smooth glaciated floor of Glacier Gorge, ^vitb scattered glacial detritus; 

 the \\-et meadow patches have formed among this material. 



■ 



nearly always lakelets, occupying basins excavated by the ice, which 

 naturally possessed increased erosional power at these points. Lake 

 basins are not, however, exclusively confined to the bases of the 



''steps." 



The results of post-glacial weathering in the canons are seen in 

 the masses of talus piled along the bases of the cUfFs. W here the 

 canons are narrow, the weathered material covers the whole breadth 

 of the floor, and has begun to fill many of the lake basins with large 

 fragments. Usuallv, however, there is a wide central space whic 

 the talus from the side chffs does not reach. Another effect of weather- 



