195 



of a caiioii leading out to the north. In the bottom of this was a small 

 lake with an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet. It was rather a pleasure 

 than otherwise when we began to ascend again. Now we were sure that 

 we had no more gorges or sinks to cross, but that, excepting the ups and 

 downs common to all peaks, our way lay uniformly upward. A few 

 hundred feet above the bottom of the sink we came upon a bench on 

 which were two small lakes, while just beyond, the steep, rugged mountain 

 rose up. The first half of the height was very steep, but neither so tire- 

 some nor so dangerous as the last half. The first was a plain slope ex- 

 tending from the lakes to the ridge of which the peak formed the termi- 

 nation. After reaching this we had to follow the sharp ridge of the 

 mountain, which for a considerable distance was notched out much like a 

 comb. The crystallization was nearly vertical, and we could not follow 

 along the highest line of the ridge, but had to go down the spaces be- 

 tween the teeth of the comb, then climb hand over hand up the steep 

 bluff beyond, and so on till, within a few hundred feet of the top, the rock 

 suddenly changed and was worn into more or less rounded slopes, all con- 

 siderably polished, but beveled out in a curious manner, by the weather. 

 These slight bevels were our only foot-holds, and, as the slope was quite 

 steep in some places, we had to ciimb Avith care ; but all our labor 

 was soon rewarded by the glorious view which presented itself to us 

 when we reached the top. On the west and north sides the peak was 

 precipitous, while on the east it sloped down much more gradually. It 

 was situated on the extreme north edge of the range, and fell in very 

 steep slopes to the low valley of the Uncompahgre, to tlie north. On 

 all sides but this we were surrounded by rugged peaks and impassable 

 caiions. The great fact which was instantly impressed upon our minds 

 was the great area of the surface above timber-line. In fact, toward 

 the east, south, and west, with the exception of a clump here and there 

 scattered at great intervals, no timber was visible. Leading from the 

 southeast side of the peak was a caiion, which, for a considerable dis- 

 tance down, ran nearly due east, but continually veering more and 

 more toward the north. For several miles down, the slopes to the bed 

 were very gentle, and presented the appearance of a deep hollow rather 

 than that of a gorge ; but it became more and more rugged toward its 

 mouth, till finally, within a few miles of that point, it was almost 

 impassable, till at last it joined the truly great caiion of the Uncom- 

 pahgre Eiver. This latter canon and its vicinity is one of the most 

 G'lrious places in the district. The ridges running down to it both 

 from the east and west sides are curiously notched and cut into strange 

 shapes. iSTumerous high, sharp pinnacles, clustering together here and 

 there, appear like church-steeples, while in other places the weathering 

 of bluffs has produced the appearance of niches with statuary. Across 

 this space, and far above it, we saw Uncompahgre Peak, which showed 

 us the familiar precipice on the north side, with the terraced slope on 

 the south. Though presenting to our eyes the same profile as when we 

 were approaching it from the east, we had lost much of our awe of the 

 mountain from the fact that we had found so many that were harder to 

 climb. We could see distinctly every station we had been on, so far, 

 this summer, besides many of the year previous. The group of quart- 

 zite peaks stood up as boldly as ever about thirty miles to the south- 

 east. In fact, I may state here that we have never yet seen the group 

 from any station (and we have viewed it from all sides) without feeling 

 both deep respect and awe for their terrible ruggedness. The fact al- 

 ready stated, that the storm-clouds seemed to hover about them before 

 starting on their meandering ways, only served to add to our other feel- 



