ENDucH.] ITINERARY. 19 



in^- tliroiigli several very pretty, well-watered valleys, we finally took to 

 a ridge leadinj? up to tlie lii.<]fliost points of the Ibot-liills or second chain. 

 Large timber densely covered the summit and slopes, but progiess was 

 made easy by the absence of undergrowth and loose bowlders. As wo 

 approaclied timber-line, however, this changed. Angular fragments of 

 rocks covered the ground, and the timber, obtaining but a poor hold in 

 the small patches of soil occiuTing there, had succumbed to storms, and 

 now lay piled up in every direction. Eiding became impossible at some 

 places, and as it was getting late in the day we encamped at timber-hue, 

 about 10,800 feet above sea-level. Even here we could not remain unmo- 

 lested by mosquitoes, but had to " build smokes " to keep them off. Before 

 dark we made a station on a peak about 800 feet above timber-line. From 

 there we saw that we were near the southern end of the range, and 

 obtained an extensive view into the low country southwest of us. We 

 noticed large numbers of the little "mountain-rat" {Lagomys princepn) 

 or marmot. Their shrill piping note, not unlilce the chirp of a squirrel, 

 was heard all over the hill, and the gracefid little animals came out of 

 their rocky homes to look at us with mingled surprise and curiosity. A 

 very cold night, with ice in the water by morning, recalled to us the 

 amenities of lower elevations. On the follo^\ing day we traveled toward 

 the southeast, passed over a high dividing ridge, and found ourselves on 

 the di'ainage of Sweetwater Elver. We had thus crossed the southern 

 end of the range, and found oiu"selves mthin 20 miles of Camp Stambaugh. 

 July 22 we started early, and traveling through a very pretty seriee 

 of valleys and across low ridges, we reached the stage-road near Atlantic 

 City. Scattering timber in tlie gidches and a few pines along the ridges 

 give the region a very i)leasing appearance. Hay is cut in some of the 

 meadows, which is furnished to settlers and to the military posts. By 

 afternoon we reached Stambaugh, where we found Clymer ftilly recov- 

 ered from his attack of fever, thanks to the kind attentions he had 

 received at the hands of the officers and to his good constitution. 

 Although we had been absent but a short time on our last trip, the 

 large number of incidents that had been crowded into each day made 

 the time since our last departure from the post appear very much longer. 

 Having arranged whatever would occupy our time during the same day, 

 we were prepared to leave the post on the next morning, once more 

 having the number of our party complete. 



PROM CAJVIP STAjSIBAUGH TO SNOW PEAK AND RETURN. 



July 23 we left Camp Stambaugh, intending to survey the western 

 slope of the Wind Eiver Mountains. IMarching along the stage-road, 

 we passed through Atlantic and South Pass cities, camping a few miles 

 west, of the latter. On the day following we traveled up one of the 

 tributaries of the Sweetwater, through a heavily-timbered region. 

 W^illow grouse {Lagopus leucurns) were quite plentiful, and our stock of 

 provisions was enlarged by the acquisition of a black-tail deer. AYe 

 made camp near the base of the highest peak, at the southern end of 

 the range. To our sincere satisfaction we foimd the mosquitoes and 

 flies less troublesome on this side of the mountains, omng, probablj-, to 

 the fact that they were here more exposed to wind. A very i^retty 

 little valley contained a portion of the Sweetwater, which rises higher 

 up in the mountains. Eich grass and comparative freedom from molest- 

 ing insects were of good service to our animals. Within a small grove 

 of slender pines we had pitched our tents, enjoying the comfort of a 

 good camp. Eemuants of a brush-hut and bones of deer, mountain- 



