HOLMES.J DOLORES CANON. 193 



diate bases of the mountains and many dense clumps of spruces grow 

 in the more sheltered spots about the summits. Considerable areas are 

 covered by quaking-aspens and scrub-oaks, and on the rich alluvial de- 

 posits at the base of the steeper slopes there is a dense growth of wild 

 cherry, service-berry, and other bushes. There is also much good grass, 

 but the omnipresent sage-brush is the chief product of the surrounding 

 plain. There was running-water in a few of the stream-courses, but not 

 in any case a sufiBcient quantity to be utilized for irrigation. 



DOLORES CANON. 



On leaving the Abajo Peak our party marched eastward toward Lone 

 Cone, the most westerly point of the San Miguel Mountains. Although 

 the two points are distant from each other about 80 miles, both are 

 in plain view throughout the greater part of the distance. Midway be- 

 tween the two points the plain is cut by tbe canon of the Rio Dolores. 

 We were led to hope, from the fact that a dim trail extended eastward 

 from the base of the Abajo, that we should be able to find a passage 

 across the river without varying much from a direct course, but were 

 much amazed to find ourselves brought suddenly to a standstill on the 

 brink of a deep and impassable caiion. I made no attempt to descend 

 the walls or to make detailed examinations, as we were still 60 miles 

 from the main camp and entirely out of provisions. "We estimated the 

 depth of the canon to be at least 1,800 feet, and subsequent calculations 

 placed it at upwards of 2,000. The Dakota sandstones form the upper 

 line of cliffs. These are followed by about 800 feet of Lower Dakota 

 and Jurassic strata which form a steep, cliff-broken slope ; beneath 

 these were the precipitous water-polished faces of the massive red sand- 

 stones. The opposing walls in the lower part of the gorge were so 

 steep and so close together that we were unable to get even a glimpse 

 of the stream. The accompanying sketch will convey a clear idea of 

 the appearance of this interesting canon. 



Turning to the south along the brink of the canon, a march of 20 miles 

 brought us to a point where I had crossed in 1875. Ou the second day 

 following, Mr. Wilson reached and made a station on Lone Cone, and on 

 the same evening reached the main camp, which had been made on a 

 branch of the Rio San Miguel. Meantime I had gone on in advance of 

 Mr. Wilson and made some hasty examinations in the Central or Dolores 

 group of the San Miguel Mountains. Thus completing within a period 

 of 84 hours the examination of two important mountain groups, distant 

 from each other fully 100 miles. This great haste was necessitated by 

 circumstances over which we had no control. 



SAN MIGUEL MOUNTAINS. 



The San Miguel Mountains lie in the extreme northeastern corner of 

 the district assigned to me in 1875, and on the divide between the waters 

 of the Animas and Upper Dolores on the south, and the Rio San Miguel 

 on the north. They constitute a pretty distinct group, the most westerly 

 of the San Juan system of mountains, and form the extreme western 

 angle of the great Colorado highland. There are three distinct groups, 

 the eastern one being the principal; of this, Mount Wilson is the chief 

 summit, and "Lizard's Head" the most easterly summit. This group is 

 separated from the Middle or Dolores group by a low saddle which has 

 been produced by the meeting of the headwaters of the Dolores and a 

 branch of the San Miguel from opposite sides. Dr. Endlich visited the 

 13 a 



