APPENDIX SS. 1767 



this road is constructed, which will eventually be done, unless the whole lower San 

 Juan shall retrograde in its present rapid settlement, the valleys of this river and afflu- 

 ents will certainly be located upon and valuable ranches result. 



THE BLAJSTCO. 



The next river to the west, the Eio Blanco, or "White Eiver, so called from the milky 

 appearance of its waters, can never play an important part in the agricultural economy 

 of this region. In its upper part is a magnificent A'alley, but it is only with great diffi- 

 culty and by trail accessible. The descent by the road from the Navajo divide is be- 

 tween and around very steep hills. Following up the river from this point, it is found 

 to be confined by steep mesas or hillsides of abrupt slopes, quite often vertical. 



The ascent of this stream, traveling of course without a guide, was one of the most 

 difficult trips experienced. Following the river bed from sheer necessity, we were kej)t 

 therein, and in one day's march, quite short in miles but apparently long in hardship, 

 the river had to be forded 39 times. While mainly a good current, it was occasion- 

 ally rough from rapids. At one point for several hundred yards large bowlders of 

 granite and other rock blocked the passage-way. They were from 10 to 40 feet in di- 

 ameter, while occasionally Avas noted one of unusual size, 50 feet by 10 or 15 in diame- 

 ter, rounded, and bearing the mark of glacial action. In avoiding them, the ascents 

 and descents of the steep banks near by caused several accidents of an almost serious 

 nature to the pack-train. Afterward there was observed extending down from the foot 

 of the mountains and along the river a high bench formation, finely timbered, with 

 magnificent grazing. Upon this also were strewn bowlders at intervals, the largest 

 observed being pear shaped, some 70 feet long, and over 40 in height. 



In the ascent and descent of this stream (in August) the abundance of wild fruit on 

 the hillsides was unusually great, more particularly the service-berries. Fine patches 

 of raspberries, light-red and exceedingly luscious, of gooseberries, and also wild cher- 

 ries were fortunately met with. 



The Blanco in its upper part flows south and southwest, curving sharply nearly to 

 the west, its mouth in the San Juan being nearly due west from this point. 



The Navajo in its upper part flows almost due south and nearly parallel to the 

 Blanco, and curves sharply, making also a great berifl abruptly to the west, its mouth, 

 being nearly or quite on the same parallel as the bend. 



The upper waters of the Blanco and Navajo have a striking similarity, each pos- 

 sessing a wide and magnificent valley, separated and inclosed by huge towering 

 mountains from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above them. In the upper part of the Blanco, 

 where the forks unite and form the main stream, the one from the east, in descending 

 from the Cretaceous shales, carries in solution whitish-gray matter in such decided 

 quantities as to impart to the main stream throughout its course that milky appear- 

 ance which is immediately noticed on reaching it. 



The Upper Blanco was meandered during the season of daily rain and there we hap- 

 pened to witness a most magnificent storm effect about sunset. Heavy rain-storms 

 had prevailed all afternoon upon the mountain tops whose effects were not entirely 

 escaped below. Extending from a meadow on the opposite bank of the river from the 

 camp there arose the grandest double rainbow we ever beheld, reaching up to and 

 capping the summit of the range east and above us, and circling down to the valley 

 on the left, the colors separate and entirely distinct without blending above, and of 

 most surpassing brilliancy. While. every one was gazing in admiration at the scene 

 another storm coming swiftly in an opposite direction above the range stopped in its 

 rapid course, suspended above the mountain tops, when the clouds attracted to the 

 highest peak, assumed a funnel shape in their descent. It was a grand indescriba- 

 ble scene in the contrast of the deep inky blackness, the bright sunlight illuminating 

 the peak below, and the gorgeous hues of the rainbow resting upon the mountain's 

 center. 



At the big bend of the Blanco, ascending the river, the valley widens from 500 

 yards to over a mile, increasing its width farther up to oue and a half and two, which 

 continues for a distance of nearly 4 miles. Like that of the Navajo, this is a very 

 beautiful spot, of which the beaver holds possession, the largest part, nearly or quite 

 level, being filled with willow undergrowth and beaver dams. Continuing on, cut- 

 ting our way as the valley narrowed through almost impenetrable masses of aspen 

 (Poj)ul)ts tremuloides), the stream at the mouth of a large tributary from the west 

 presented an almost impassable barrier in the impediments presented. 



The lofty mountains inclosing the valley approached and almost met, high walls 

 from either side running to the water's edge. From either side an immense wall of 

 vertical rock extended to the stream, its former center broken and eroded by the 

 water, leaving a perfect gateway, through which the river dashed over bowlders, huge 

 logs, and high masses of drift", serious obstacles to passage, the ascent being made only 

 with great difficulty. Farther on some side walls of red sandstone were worn into 



