APPENDIX S S. 1757 



peaks bordering directly along the river. It lies, so to speak, like a little spot at the 

 bottom of an immense bowl, whose sides tower nearly a mile into the skies above; the 

 mountains are huge sugar-loaf masses of trachyte, fearfully irregular; no gentle slopes 

 are present, hut successive cliffs, with debvia between, sheer precipices from 400 to 

 1,000 feet being observed; Harrow gulches, at whose upper ends alone are passes found, 

 separate the peaks themselves, while over the sides with rapid flow dash down the 

 mountain-streams at angles from 40° to 75° into the gulches or the park below. 



By whatever pass you descend to the park there obtains to the newcomer therein 

 a sensation of confinement, a feeling of insecurity and dread, as if the huge crags 

 above, placed around by gigantic upheavals, might totter and move from their bases; 

 and you involuntarily contrast the situation with the huge park of the Animas below, 

 which is passed through with a feeling of pleasure and admiration in viewing its 

 scenic beauty. This is properly but a widening of the river's canon; below there are 

 places in the grand canon of 250 yards in width, but of small extent ; here it suddenly 

 widens out to over 2,500, and the far-famed Baker's Park is the result. Elsewhere a 

 park of this size would not seem unusual; here it is very attractive, and whether it lie 

 reached by the ascent of the canon of the Animas, or by descent from any of the lofty 

 mountain passes that guard it in every other direction, one is duly impressed with the 

 remarkable topography of the situation. Viewed in the light of its central position 

 in an immense storehouse of mineral wealth, as the seat of population and industry, 

 as a basis of supply and a point whence all business must radiate and return, it 

 assumes an additional importance not before possessed. 



THE SAX MIGUEL MOUNTAINS. 



West from San Miguel or Trout Lake, so called from its abounding in fish at an un- 

 usually high altitude, stretches, as a divide between the Dolores and San Miguel, a 

 group known as the San Miguel Mountains, a number of the x>eaks exceeding 14,000 

 feet. To the peaks themselves names various and unlike have been assigned by the 

 engineers of the different government parties surveying them. While this serves an 

 economical purpose in perpetuating honor upon several individuals by the use of the 

 same identical point, it is rather perplexing to the student of geography. 



The region of the San Miguel is one of the most promising of the undeveloped sec- 

 tions. 



THE LAKE FORK MOUNTAIN'S. 



Passing up the Animas River, east from its headwaters and north from the vertex 

 of the great divide, there are found several lofty peaks, about 14,000 feet, the topmost 

 summit being known as Handle's Peak, on whose slopes are the American Basin and 

 Burrows Park, promising mining-camps. 



From its slopes flow down waters of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison, so called be- 

 cause the stream, an affluent of the Gunnison, widens out into a large and beautiful 

 lake, called San Cristobal, or Saint Christopher, ere it leaves the mountain region. 

 Apparently undecided in its course, this stream, after flowing to the south, turns to 

 the east, and then assumes a northerly direction, which it follows until the Gunnison 

 is reached. Over 20 miles from its head is Lake City, the most promising town in the 

 San Juan, at the mouth of Hensen Creek, a tributary whose headwaters are not far 

 distant, and whose course is a little north of due east. 



Between Hensen Creek and the Lake Fork are the Lake Fork Mountains. While 

 they might be adjudged but apart of the Uncompahgres themselves, from which they 

 are separated by the gorge of Hensen Creek, they may be otherwise known from their 

 being almost entirely encircled by the waters of the two streams mentioned. 



Approaching them from any direction at a distance, they do not give that deep 

 impression which a closer view imparts. Instead of low peaks not excessively loftier 

 than their surroundings, you come upon deep gorges, cut by the streams washing their 

 bases, whence rise up peaks from 3,000 to nearly 4,000 feet above, a magnificent range 

 with graceful contours and sky-lines, deep canons, and dashing mountain-torrents. 

 A large lake below, in whose surface are reflected the high colors of its rocks, con- 

 trasting with the timber beneath, completes one of the handsomest mountain land- 

 scapes in the entire region. Its wealth of mineral has, moreover, attracted thither 

 more capital than any other place in the Territory, and prosperity of a substantial 

 nature undoubtedly exists. 



THE UXCOMPAHGRE MOUNTAINS. 



This range is situated at the headwaters of the Uncompahgre River and contiguous 

 streams, and is drained upon the sonth by Hensen Creek and streams of the San 

 Miguel; by the latter on the west, by the Uncompahgre and Lake Fork waters upon 

 the north, and by the latter also upon the east. Except the Elk Mountains, this is 



