ESDLicn.] SWEETWATER DISTRICT VEGETATION. 59 



Trails. 



Comiiaiatively few trails are found witliin our district. Perhaps the 

 most important for extensive travel is that known as the "Ute trail." 

 Passing the raili'oad near Washakie Station, it follows a direction west 

 of north. Leading through the low, diy country, it strikes the group of 

 lakes of which Trail Lake is the largest. From there it continues its 

 course, although much obliterated, to Camp Brown. As the wagon-roads 

 frequently follow the same route formerly taken by the trad oidy, it now 

 ap])ears at several places as " cut-oiis." It is used a good deal by the 

 Indians, who pass over it while making thek- visits to each other. AVith- 

 in the low country we find a few short trails leading up canons or cross^ 

 ing some of the ridges. Although of some assistance in riding through 

 the region, they are of no further importance. Along the northern slope 

 of the Sweetwater Hills there are some isolated hunting-trails. Tlie 

 wagon roads of that Aicinity are so old, that they have been utilized to 

 the utter neglect and consequent obliteration of the trails that may have 

 existed there. A good trail is foun<l following down Beaver Creek. It 

 appears to be a branch of that leading from Washakie to Camp Brown. 

 Several ramifications pass through the canons of the Sheei^ IMountain 

 region. Important to the Indians, although rarely used by white men, 

 is the trail crossing the Wind Elver Eange. Coming from the west it 

 reaches the mountains near the exit of IMuddy Creek. Following along 

 a canon to the northwest of this stream it finally reaches tunber-line, at 

 the base of a peak which we have named Temple Peak Again descend- 

 ing, it crosses the IMuddy. Winding along the rugged hills it once more 

 emerges from the timber and crosses the continental divide at an eleva- 

 tion of about 11,G00 feet above sea-level. From there it descends rapidly 

 and leads to the agency near Camp Brown. This pasi^ is known by.the 

 name of " Shoshone Trail Pass." So far as our observations extend, it 

 is the most southerly practicable pass across the continental divide for 

 the distance that this is formed by the Wind Eiver Eange. 



YEaETATION. 



With tlie topography of our district varies its vegetation. It is not 

 my intention to present a synopsis of all the ]:>lants occurring in the re- 

 gions we have traversed, but merely to indicate the most i;)romiuent 

 forms there exhibited by the flora. For comi)rehcnsive iuibrmation 

 upon this subject I refer the reader to Fremont's Eeport, 1845, and to 

 , the Eeport of Dr. Hayden, 1870. 



In the Wind Eiver Eange, at the highest point reached by timber we 

 find the characteristic pine which grows at this elevation. Within the 

 mountains spruce trees {Abies menzinii) and firs {Abies SKhaljnna) coia- 

 pose the main portion of the timber. As we descend, Ave meet with the 

 yellow pine {Piniis ponderosa), which forms very pretty groves. At the 

 same elevation we find quaking asp {Popiilus trcmulo'ides). On some of 

 the ridges, and along canons that contain a good deal of moisture, these 

 trees reach a very considerable height. Their light-green foliage and the 

 white trunks present a very pretty apiiearance. On the loAver, outlying 

 bluffs Finns contorta occurs frequently. As we descend fiom the foot- 

 hills the character of the vegetation changes. The creeks are densely 

 fiinged with willow-brush {IScdix nigra), which, together "\nth quaking- 

 asp, furaishes desirable food for beavers. Eeachiug the bluff country 

 we find sage-brush {Artemisia tridentata) very prevalent. Its api)ear- 

 ance usually indicates a dry, sandy region. On some of the blufls of the 



