324 THE SUSHITNA RIVER, ALASKA 



the northern branch is generally called the main river, and is 

 the one which we ascended. 



The Kuskokwini Indians come down the western branch to 

 trade. They sa}'- there is an easy passage from the Kuskokwim 

 into this branch of the Sushitna, which would indicate a low 

 range of mountains as forming the watershed between these two' 

 valleys, instead of the high, unbroken range indicated on the 

 government charts of previous years. 



If this so-called Alaskan range exists, it must be much farther 

 west than is indicated on the charts, for I have been where I 

 could see at least 100 miles west of Sushitna river, and could see 

 no indications of such a range in that direction. A vast, almost 

 level country, covered with forests of spruce and birch, with here 

 and there great swamps, extended to the west as far as I could 

 see with a rather poor pair of field-glasses. It is true that early 

 in June (1897) I could see patches of snow to the west, which 

 would indicate the presence of mountains, but they are not at 

 all high, as in the previous year the snow was all gone in iwly. 

 The Indians report a large lake on this western branch, and say 

 that the stream forks six days' journey from its mouth. 



The other branch has a generally northern direction, though 

 very crooked. Only once in 100 miles above the junction is the 

 river confined to a single channel, and there only where hemmed 

 in by high bluffs on both sides. Many islands and channels, 

 great masses of driftwood, and countless snags characterize this 

 portion of the river, while caving banks, falling trees, and the 

 swift current make the journey both difficult and dangerous. 

 Nowhere could we make any headway except by poling or tow- 

 ing, crossing and recrossing the labyrinth of channels to escape 

 dangerous places. One-third of the boats that have ascended 

 the Sushitna any distance have been lost, either by being swept 

 under the drift and sunk or smashed by caving banks or falling 

 trees. Tmckily, however, only one life was lost during the last 

 season, that of a Mr Parsons, of Seattle. 



The low mountains that lie between the Midnooskie (Knik) 

 and the Sushitna rivers were apparently about 12 to 20 miles 

 back from the river, and three small branches enter the Sushitna 

 from that side. 



While ascending this portion of the river we had many glori- 

 ous views of Mt McKinley and an unnamed companion south- 

 west of the higher peak. Mt McKinley is in this valley as 

 ubiquitous as the Washington monument in the city of Wash- 



