187 



crossed it, was nearly 13,000 feet in elevation. A keen, strong breeze 

 did not serve to add to onr comfort in our present saturated condition. 

 While waiting here for the train, Mr. Wilson made station 24 on a point 

 east of the point where we crossed tbe ridge. The elevation of this 

 place is about 12,700 feet — a little higher than the point where we 

 crossed the same divide a few days ago. We traveled down that branch 

 of the Eio Grande which heads between stations 24 and 25, and camped 

 in a splendid grove of pines. In the afternoon the sky had begun to 

 lighten up. Isolated clouds passed swiftly over us from the west, ever 

 aud anon cutting off the sunlight, and producing the sudden chilling- 

 effect always noticeable in the shadow of a cloud at high altitudes. The 

 great difference of temperature in the sun and in the shade at these alti- 

 tudes is very remarkable. At this particular time I thought I noticed 

 that whirls and gusts of wind always accompanied the fast-moving 

 shadow. Whenever a long space between clouds allowed the sun to 

 shine unobstructed, for some time the air would be quite still, but 

 the next cloud-shadow seemed to bring with it little whirlwinds and 

 changing gusts of chilly air. By the time we had unsaddled our animals 

 the sun was shining brightly, and now, after three days and nights of in- 

 cessant rain, we had a good opportunity to dry our clothes and blankets, 

 and everyone made good use of the short time before sunset. In the even- 

 ing, instead of sitting down to a hearty meal, we had to make our sup- 

 per on bacon and dried apples alone, and very short rations at that. We 

 had a few beans left, but all the bacon and apples were used up for 

 supper; but as we expected to reach Howard ville the next day, we did 

 not mind it so very much. Our bill of fare next morning presented only 

 two articles, beans, which on account of our elevation could not be well 

 cooked, aud sugar. We could take either or both as we chose. Beans 

 with other food are very strengthening, but alone we could scarcely 

 eat them at all. The pack-train started direct to Howardville, while 

 Wilson and I climbed the most northern of the quartzite peaks, a point 

 having an elevation of 13,576 feet above the sea. The day was clear, 

 still, and beautiful. After riding as far as we could, we still had about 

 a thousand feet to climb on foot over the steep debris slides before 

 reaching the top. We soon discovered that our breakfast of beans and 

 sugar formed a poor foundation for such hard work. Once on top, a 

 row often distinct peaks stretched in a nearly east and west line before 

 our eyes. Their ruggedness may be understood from the illustration of 

 " the Quartzite Peaks from station 38," the three or four on the left of the 

 picture being just in front of us from station 25. Being much nearer, 

 they appeared much more rugged than from station 38. The peaks in 

 this row range from 13,560 to 13,831 feet in elevation. Between them 

 we could see the higher peaks to the south. 



The great and essential differences in the topography resulting from 

 the change in the geological formation is here so very marked and is so 

 interesting that I cannot pass it by without notice. The general differ- 

 ence in the appearance of the country in trachyte and quartzite forma- 

 tions is intended to be shown by the two large topographical sketches pre- 

 sented in this report. The view of Mount Sneffels from station 29 shows 

 nothing but trachyte rock, while the sketch from station 38 shows 

 quartzite only. But a mere sketch cannot show well the characteristics 

 of the two. I have tried to work out some of the features peculiar to 

 the topography of each of these two formations. These being derived 

 almost wholly from observations in Southern Colorado and for the great 

 part in this particular region, they may not have a very general appli- 

 cation. 



