ehoda.] GEOGRAPHY MOUNT SNEFFELS. 481 



of a canon 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 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 mouutain 

 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 Jakes 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 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 until, 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 climb with 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 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 the north. On all 

 sides but this we were surrounded by rugged peaks and impassable 

 canons. The great fact which was instantly impressed, upon our minds 

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

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

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

 side of the peak was a canon, which, for a considerable distance 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 canon of the Uncompahgre River. This 

 latter canon and its vicinity is one of the most curious 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. Numerous 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. We noticed several large 

 quartz veins which seemed never to have been discovered by the miners. 

 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 

 quartzite 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 seem to hover about them before 

 31 H 



