132 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
trail forks, one keeping to the right along the stream, and the other turning to the left and 
passing over a high overhanging mountain spur. Our guide, Antoine, informed us that the 
mountain trail was more easy for the animals, the one to the right being much obstructed by 
fallen timber. After commencing the descent we heard the voices of our men driving the 
animals іп (һе valley beneath us, and waited till we turned them upon the trail we had con- 
cluded to take. We ascended the dividing ridge and reached a camp with good grass, upon a 
small lake, within a mile of its top. The lake, to which we were obliged to descend for water, 
is twelve hundred feet below the camp. 
CŒUR D'ALÉNE OR STEVENS'S PASS. 
October 11.—The pass beneath us was made by two rivers flowing from the dividing ridge 
in opposite directions, having their sources in lakes not more than half a mile apart; the general 
direction of the valley being east and west. We estimated our camp to be two thousand feet 
above the eastern base of the mountain, and two thousand five hundred feet above the western 
base. The lake upon the eastern side was about twelve hundred feet below us, and that upon 
the western side about seven hundred feet higher. This pass is probably practicable for a 
railroad and should be examined.* After pitching. camp last evening a drizzling rain commenced 
faling, which we supposed would turn into snow before morning. Upon awakening this 
morning we were surprised to be greeted with one of the loveliest days imaginable. The sky 
was clear, and the air as soft and balmy as а mornin summer. After striking camp we ascended 
to the highest point of the ridge, about one mile and a half from camp. Here we made a long 
halt, enjoying the magnificent view spread open to us, which, I venture to say, can scarcely be 
surpassed in апу country. Far distant іп the east the peaks of the Rocky mountains loom up 
into view, stretched out to a great length, while the Flathead lake and the valley thence to 
the Blackfoot Pass was plainly visible. Nearly the entire range of the Cœur d’ Aléne moun- 
tains, clothed with evergreen forests, with here and there an open summit covered with grass; 
numerous valleys intersecting the country for miles around; courses of many streams, marked 
by the ascending fog, all conduced to render the view fascinating in the greatest degree to 
the beholder. The mountains were covered with luxuriant coarse grass. Seated on this point, 
Mr. Stanley was enabled to transfer this beautiful panorama to his sketch-book. Descending 
the peak to the general level of the ridge, ‘we continued on for nearly six miles, when the 
descent commenced, and in less. than three miles we passed down a very steep descent and 
gained the base of the mountains, + which we estimated rose three thousand five hundred feet 
above it. This brought us into a valley fi with gigantic cedars. The larch, spruce, and 
vine maple are found in to-day’ в march in tees quantities, the latter giving a pleasing variety 
to the forest growth, About 4 o'clock we encamped upon the bank of the stream, which here 
grows much wider. We e fii | the nee scanty, and therefore intend making an early start, and 
: E ; 
breakfast seven miles d à 
: ris at - а ied us to this point from the 
eastern base of the lividing т ime Cc ا‎ Aléne ‹ о ссотрапі us to po 
‘th p find a Coeur d' Aléne and 
his wife on their P nent we а Со 
m а siu a e of gras night ca caused our animals to wander, and three of them 
e 0 of ше mount tains six ‘miles back. It was not until 10$ o'clock that our 
узен E сз ше ll lected, and are | to move. _ We rode until half-past three, 
© See pages 56 and 97, vol. 1, Pacific > | us 22. Tas ама 
the Cour d'Aléne or Stevens's Pase. Sues sas танктен = s cdm en 
