189 



On our return to Howardville we rode across the rolling gTound 

 which extends southward from Cunningham Pass. Arriving at thfr 

 town, we found Mr. Jackson, the photographer of the expedition, with 

 his party. He had just arrived from the Los Pinos agency. We made 

 the ascent of Saltan Mountain in company, and Mr. Jackson succeeded 

 in getting a number of good photographs of the surrounding country. 

 Prom here is obtained by far the best view of Baker's Park that is ob- 

 tainable from anj^ peak in the vicinity. 



After getting our supplies we marched up Mineral Creek, while Mr. 

 Jackson struck south over the trail which passes around the west side 

 of Saltan Mountain, and made a very interesting investigation of the 

 old ruins in Southwestern Colorado. 



In the afternoon rain fell, and continued into the night, but the next 

 morning was cold and the sky clear and beautiful. This date (Septem- 

 ber 3) is remarkable as being the time of the abrupt change between 

 summer and fall. After this, till the snow-storms commenced, the 

 weather was cold and clear. Having camped overnight at the 

 junction of Bear and Mineral Creeks, the next morning we moved 

 up the latter, and made stations 27 and 28 on a high ridge between 

 Mineral and Cement Creeks. Camping near the head of the creek^ 

 the following day we crossed the pass at its head and i)assed over 

 to the head of the Uucompahgre Kiver. The elevation of this 

 pass is 11,100 feet above the sea. It is entirely covered with timber. 

 The slope to the south is quite gradual, but to the north, down the 

 Uncompahgre, the fall is 800 feet in two miles. Then for several miles 

 the stream flows comparatively smoothly, till it finally enters a deep 

 box-caiion, where the fall is very great. Traveling for some distance is^ 

 both difficult and dangerous. At the bottom of the first steep slope a 

 great area of fallen timber commences. The logs so cover the ground, 

 that traveling is very nearly impossible. Leaving a notice for the pack- 

 train to camp near the beginning of this dead timber, Mr. Wilson, Dr. 

 Endlich, and I rode on, and finally got through the timber, when we 

 had open grassy ground to travel over, but the slope was so steep that 

 we could ride only a small part of the way. Leaving our mules loose, 

 as usual, to find what grass they might at this elevation, which 

 was a little under 13,000 feet, we made station 29, on a round-topped 

 peak, which, being surrounded by peaks higher than itself, is of no great 

 importance. It was taken as a station, because its position between two 

 of the main branches of the Uncompahgre made it a key -point for the 

 drainage-system which forms the head of that stream. Its elevation 

 is 13,200 feet. From here we got by far the best view of Mount Suef- 

 fels, and the curious ijinnacle-forms in its vicinity, which have already^ 

 been mentioned as seen from station 10. The accompanying illustration, 

 taken from a hasty topographical sketch, Avill give a faint idea of the 

 great peak and its vicinity. Of course the elevation and ruggedness of 

 the mountains shown in the sketch can only be appreciated by a per- 

 son who has climbed many mountains. Even then the air is so clear at 

 these high altitudes that one is deceived in spite of himself with regard 

 to distances. Prom here we could see no feasible route by which to 

 climb the great Mount Sneffels, so we laid the question aside till a view 

 from some peak further to the west should solve it satisfactorily, ^ext 

 day we retraced our steps over the pass and down Mineral Creek, camp- 

 ing again at its junction with Bear Creek. Moving up the latter stream,, 

 we camped on a considerable branch which comes in from the north. 

 This is probably the finest camping-ground on the whole stream, with 

 fine timber, good water, and a sufficient quantity of grass. Above this. 



