46 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



tlie first contains tlie liigli peaks of the range, culminating in Fremont's 

 Peak, 13,570 {Fremont) feet liigli. Although this is beyond the limits 

 of our district, we were enabled to recognize its i^osition from the sum- 

 mit of Snow Peak. On the western side the main chain is accessible 

 by way of the ridges extendiQg into the low country. They lead to lower 

 elevations without having formed any secondary chain. To the east the 

 main chaui falls off very steeply, not unfrequently presenting perpendic- 

 ular or overhanging waUs. From that side the highest peaks of the 

 range may be considered inaccessible. Following in a southeasterly 

 direction we find a number of high mountains occupying the crest of the 

 western chain. As is usually the case in the Eocky Mountains, the. 

 highest points show about the same altitude, and only a few are found 

 to exceed by several hundreds of feet the average elevation. Snow Peak 

 is an exception of this kind. Located in the main chain, it rises to an 

 elevation of 13,400 feet above sea-level, about 500 feet higher than the 

 general altitude of the neighboring summits. From there toward the 

 southern end of the range no more prominently high peaks appear, unless 

 we except Stambaugh Peak. Located near the southern terminus of the 

 Wind Eiver Mountains, this peak shows an elevation of 12,700 feet. 

 The main chain gradually diminishes in height as it approaches the low 

 country, and Stambaugh Peak, therefore, appears higher than it really 

 is. On various maps the name "Fremont's Peak" is placed opposite a 

 number of different mountains. It may be found so as to indicate Stam- 

 baugh, or, more frequently, Snow Peaks, and may be seen where no 

 prominent peaks occur in fact. Both of the mountains above named 

 were ascended by our party, and no evidence of Fremont having been 

 there was observed. Besides this, his descriptions do not tally with 

 those localities. From Stambaugh Peak the range rajiidly falls off, the 

 main chain disappears in the foot-hills, and these gradually merge into 

 the lower bluff-country. 



As the chain of foot-hills we may regard a succession of lulls, parallel 

 to the main chain, on its eastern side. The steep slopes of the latter 

 form a somewhat broken, abrupt depression between the two. Eidges 

 ascending from the western base of the outlying hills lead up to the siun- 

 mits of this second chain. The highest points are comparatively isolated, 

 being separated from each other by saddles sometimes a thousand feet 

 in depth. They were found to reach above timber-Mne (11,000 feet above 

 sea-level) in many instances, and presented bare, sharp points. South- 

 east of Stambaugh Peak, the difference between these two first chains is 

 obliterated. A more or less steeply sloping series of hills leads down to 

 the lower metamorphic area withm which the mining settlements are 

 located. 



The outlying chain may be characterized as one parallel to the two 

 just described lying to the eastward of them. It is composed of sedi- 

 mentary material, and is analogous to the "hog-backs" of Colorado. 

 Presenting comparatively easy slopes toward the east, the descent on 

 the western side is steep. Deep, narrow valleys are lormed between 

 the base of the foot-hiU chain and the western edge of this one. Eun- 

 ning, necessarily, parallel with and between the two chains, the foot- 

 hills are cut transversely by the streams issuing from the mountains. 

 In a like manner is the outlying chain subjected to breaks of its con- 

 tinuity. At some localities the gaps permitting the passage of streams 

 are comparatively wide ; at others they are merely carions with vertical 

 walls. Extending along the eastern base of the foot-hiUs, this chain 

 foUows the range southeastward tp tUeiaeiaity of Miner's Dehght. 



