EEPOKT AND JOURNAL. 



by guide-party with a broken-down mule. About 3 o'cl 

 reported water and grass ahead of us about- 30 miles, 

 ahead looking up points of route. The pass immediatel; 

 Creek, has been examined to McCarthy's Creek, and fc 

 pack-route. An Indian trail passes this way. 



The formations along McCarthy's Creek are limestoi 

 very nearly under the head of igneous rocks. At the sui 

 glomerates obtain, and they continue down to the east fo 

 limestones, partly pure, and partly subcrystalline, and p 

 out, and by some fossils found in them are recognized as 

 age, rocks of which age have not been known before to 

 to a very limited extent. 



July 14, Camp No. 17, Bluff Creek— Elevation abo 

 mometer at 4.30 a, m. 56°.50. Raised camp at 10 mini 

 across Buell Valley. This valley, apparently limitless at 

 In 6.4 miles reach a point in mid- valley, where I put 

 Neill's Canon, as follows: 



TO GOOD CAMP AND ROAD, 8 MILES. 

 (A short cut.) 



By this cut-off about 6 miles can be saved. Proceeding 6.7 miles farther, we 

 commence going up pass over a low ridge, dividing Buell Valley from the adjoining 

 valley lying east of it, which I call Phelps Valley, after Capt. John W. Phelps, Fourth 

 Artillery. In 1.8 miles reach summit (6,523 feet above the sea) by a gentle grade, and 

 in 1 mile east foot, also by an easy descent. Then striking northeastwardly, 8.1 miles 

 across Phelps Valley, brings us to the west foot of the Too-muntz range of mountains, 

 dividing Phelps Valley from Butte Valley. Ascending this range 8.3 miles, by an excel- 

 lent grade through a winding canon, we attained the summit of the pass, a quarter of a 

 mile below which, on east side, we encamp, at the foot of a conspicuous bluff called by 

 the Indians, on account of its dark basaltic color, Black Head, or Too-muntz Mountain. 

 Here is an icy-cold spring, and about half a mile farther down, or to the east, a small 

 stream to which we drive our stock. Good grass in vicinity. The spring I call Sum- 

 mit Sprino-. Elevation of summit of pass above the sea, 7,103 feet. 



Buell Valley, in spots, is entirely denuded of vegetation, and presents tlu- appear- 

 ance of a clay flat; elsewhere it is covered with small artvmis'm and rabbit-bush. Phelps 

 Valley appears closed by a cross-range at south, about 6 miles ott ; at north, the range 

 closing it is about 15 miles off Soil argillo-arenaceous. Small sage the characteristic. 

 Small cedars in the passes of the ranges we have crossed to-day. The journey has 

 been 32.4 miles, too long a day's travel, but necessary to get to water. Road good. 

 Train reached camp at 8.30 p. m. n 



July 15, Camp No. 18, Summit Spriuo, Too-muntz ram.— Longitude, 115 12 14 ; 



