86 GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY OF THE TEKKITOKIES. 



as it were, two huge monoclmals. These monoelinals form local anti- 

 clinals, inasmuch as in some places all the beds incline, for a short dis- 

 tance, from a common axis. 



On the north side of the river, and east from 10 to 20 miles, the flanks 

 of the mountain-ranges are covered with the unchanged rocks, which 

 give coujparatively gentle grassy slopes, owing to the readiness with 

 which they yield to the atmospheric agencies. Through these slopes 

 many little streams cut their way, forming huge caSous, which reveal 

 along their sides the series of becls in their order of succession. From 

 a point near the source, for 20 or 30 miles, the river flows through a 

 synclinal valley, the conspicuous red beds dipping from either side. 

 Along the valley of the river are marked deposits of drift, the result of 

 glacial action ; but the most beautiful feature is the well-defined ter- 

 races, about 50 feet high, and smoothed off like a lawn. The terraces 

 are covered with considerable deposit of drift, but when they are cut 

 through by streams the basis rocks are shown. The scenery on either 

 side of the valley is beautiful beyond description. On the west side are 

 the snow-clad peaks of the Medicine Bow Eange, in the distance, with 

 numerous intervening lower ranges, ascending like steps. 



The Snowy Mountains are mostly destitute of vegetation, and are 

 covered with eternal snows, but the lower mountain-ridges are covered 

 mostly with what may be called groves of pine. Indeed, the pine and 

 grassy openings are so arranged and proportioned that the whole scene 

 appears as if it might have been i^artially the work of art, and the trav- 

 eler imagines himself in a sparsely-settled, mountainous district, instead 

 of the unexplored Eocky Mountain region. The openings and grassy 

 slopes will make excellent pasture-grounds, for the grass is good, and 

 they are watered by the finest mountain-streams and springs. 



I would again remark that the pine forests of these mountains must, 

 at some future period, be an object of earnest pursuit. Even now the 

 mountain-sides are full of tie-cutters, who cut and float hundreds of 

 thousands of ties down the mountain-streams, 20 to 100 miles, to the 

 Union Pacific Eailroad, where they can be transported by rail to any 

 desired point. 



In the moist ravines of the mountain-sides are patches of the aspen, 

 Populus tremuloides, which form a striking feature in the landscape, 

 from its peculiar mode of growth. They grow very thickly, seldom at- 

 taining a height of more than 40 or 50 feet, and not more than 12 or 18 

 inches in diameter. The bodies are very smooth and nearly white, and 

 the tops form a rounded cone-shaped mass of foliage. These aspen 

 groves are the favorite resort of elk, deer, grouse, and all kinds of 

 game. 



On the east side, also, is the snow-clad range, which, in its southward 

 extension, includes Long's Peak, and numerous peaks in the vicinity. 

 On either side of this lofty range, which often rises above the limit of 

 vegetation, are a number of successive lower ridges which descend like 

 steps. There is such a wonderful uniformity in the structure of these 

 mountains that a detailed descrir)tion of a portion applies for the most 

 part to all. 



Our course along the Cherokee trail was about southwest from the 

 Big Laramie Eiver, over ridge after ridge, and after traveling 25 miles 

 we entered the Korth Park, through some of the most beautiful scenery 

 of that interesting region. From the summit of the high ridges on the 

 north we looked to the southward, over a series of lofty cones or pyra- 

 mids, as it were, all clothed with a dense growth of pine. The meta- 

 morphic rocks of which these are composed disintegrate so easily that 



