22 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



geologic character farther than to perceive the fact that they are formed 

 of sedimentary strata resembling the strata of which this peak is 

 formed. We are looking down upon the backs of the strata which dij) 

 beneath us, and it is only in the walls of the broad amphitheaters 

 facing us that outcropping beds can be seen, and the appearance of these 

 does not assist us in determining their age. The broad summits of the 

 ridges are snow-covered, and the slopes and upper valleys are also cov- 

 ered with dark fields of fallen rocks. The middle slopes have a pretty 

 dense growth of pine forest, and the valleys lower down have parks and 

 meadows. The southern face of the peak descends in a smooth but 

 steep slope to the bed of the large creek which drains this part of the 

 range, and which is without a doubt the main branch of Gardiner Eiver. 

 The view to the west is pretty nearly all cut off by the dark volcanic 

 ridge that lies between Cinnabar and Canon Creeks, tributaries of the 

 Yellowstone. 



The broad northern spur extends down-to the Yellowstone and termi- 

 nates in Cinnabar Mountain. On the left is the valley of Cinnabar 

 Creek, and on the right Cache Creek. Beyond the valley of the Yellow- 

 stone is Dome Mountain, which overlooks the second canon on the north, 

 and beyond that Emigrant Peak lifts its noble summit above the neigh- 

 boring mountains, while the snow-covered ranges that extend to the 

 east through Delano Mountain and Helmet Peaks to the Kosebud and 

 Clark's Fork Mountains present a magnificent panorama. Seven thou- 

 sand feet below us, and seemingly almost beneath our feet, is the valley 

 of the Yellowstone, the dark line of the river running like a thread 

 through the yellow meadows. Rising from this to the north are steep 

 grassy slopes, and, still higher, belts of dark timber, and far back, crown- 

 ing all, a rim of countless summits that bewilder the eye and defy the 

 utmost skill of the pencil. 



The geologic structure of this grand mass of mountains remains a pro- 

 found secret. The higher summits appear to be capped, at least, with 

 the volcanic conglomerate, but even this is not certain. To the west of 

 Emigrant Peak are the Mystic Lake and Blackmore Groups of the Gal- 

 latin Mountains, and to the north of these the Bridger and Crazy Wo- 

 man Ranges. Turning to the east we find that the lower valley of 

 Gardiner River is wholly hidden by Sepulchre Mountain. The upper 

 part of the wall and the plateau-like summit of Mount Evarts are in 

 plain view west, and a very good general view of the valley of the Yel- 

 lowstone and of the ranges that border the East Fork can be had. 



The stretch of broken, parked country bordering the Yellowstone 

 and its tributaries is beautifully shown, and from the cold heights of 

 this lofty mountain seems unusually attractive and full of sunlight. 

 The scene to the north, as the blue shadows of evening fill the valleys 

 and creep up toward the crests of the purple and golden ranges, makes 

 us realize in its fullness that this is a land not only of the wonderful and 

 beautiful, but pre-eminently of the sublime. As night approached we 

 descended in great haste, and at a late hour reached camp at the springs. 

 The section given in Plate X will make clear the relations of Electric 

 Peak, Sepulchre Mountain, and Mount Evarts. 



On the 2d of October we arrived at the spring the second time, having 

 been driven in from the Yellowstone Mountains east of the lake by snow- 

 -storms. On the following day we set out for a few days exploration in 

 the upper valley of Gardiner River, the Gibbon Fork geyser country, 

 and the Gallatin Mountains. Late in the evening of the 7th we went 

 into camp at the southeast base of the western slope of the Gallatin 

 Range. The country about the base of the mountains around the south 



