XIV REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



and the constant fear of being precipitated down on either side several, 

 hundred feet into the amphitheatres below. After some two hours of 

 this diflQcalt climbing, they came to the base of the main point, which, 

 though very steep, was soon ascended, and at 11 o'clock a. m. they 

 found themselves on the very summit. From this point one of the most 

 magnificent views in all Colorado was spread out before them. The 

 greater portion of Colorado and New Mexico was embraced in this field 

 of vision. This point is the highest in the Sierra Blanca group, and, so 

 far as is known at the present time, is the highest in Colorado. The 

 elevation of this point was determined by Mr. Wilson in the following 

 manner: First, by a mean of eight barometric readings, taken synchro- 

 nously with those at Fort Garland, which gave a difference between the 

 two points of 6,466 feet; secondly, by fore and back angles of elevation 

 and depression, which g^ve a difference of 6,468 feet. The elevation at 

 the fort was determined by a series of barometric readings, which, when 

 compared with the Signal Service barometer at Colorado Springs, gave 

 it an elevation of 7,997 feet, making the Blanca Peak 14,464 feet above 

 sea-level. This peak may be regarded, therefore, as the highest, or at 

 least next to the highest, yet known in the United States. A compari- 

 son with some of the first-class lieaks in Colorado will show the relative 

 height : 



Teet. 



Uucoinpuhgre Peak, above sea-level 14,235 



Blanca Peak, above sea-level 14, 464 



Mount Harvard, above sea-level 14,384 



Gray's Peak, above sea-level 14, 341 



Mount Lincoln, above sea-level 14,296 



Mount Wilson, above sea-level 14,280 



Long's Peak, above sea-level 14,271 



Pike's Peak, above sea-level 14, 146 



The foregoing table will afford some conception of the difficulty en- 

 countered in determining the highest peak where there are so many 

 that are nearly of the same elevation. About fifty peaks are found 

 within the limits of Colorado that exceed 14,000 feet above the sea-level. 



From this point the party proceeded westward across the San Luis 

 Valley and up the Eio Grande to its source, making two primary sta- 

 tions on the way, one near the summit district and the other on the Rio 

 Grande pyramid. From the head of the Eio Grande the party crossed 

 the continental divide, striking the Animas Park, and thence proceeded 

 b3^ trail to Parrott City. 



After making a station on La Plata Peak, the party marched north- 

 west across the broken mesa country west of the Dolores, making three 

 stations on the route to complete a small piece of topography that had 

 been omitted the previous year, on account of the hostility of the Ute 

 Indians. After making a primary station on the highest point of the 

 Abajo Mountains, the party turned eastward to Lone Cone, where another 

 station was made. Thence, crossing the Gunnison and Grand Rivers, 



