ASH HOLLOW. 41 



deep precipitous chasms on either side, leaving only a high nar- 

 row ridge, or backbone, which gradually descended, until, toward 

 its western termination, it fell off precipitately into the bottom of 

 the creek. Here we were obliged, from the steepness of the road, 

 to let the wagons down by ropes, but the labour of a dozen men 

 for a few days would make the descent easy and safe. The bot- 

 tom of Ash Creek is tolerably well wooded, principally with ash 

 and some dwarf cedars. The bed of the stream was entirely dry, 

 but toward the mouth several springs of delightfully cold and 

 refreshing water were found, altogether the best that has been 

 met with since leaving the Missouri. We encamped at the mouth 

 of the valley, here called Ash Hollow. The traces of the great 

 tide of emigration that had preceded us were plainly visible in 

 remains of camp-fires, in blazed trees covered with innumerable 

 names carved and written on them ; but, more than all, in the total 

 absence of all herbage. It was only by driving our animals to a 

 ravine some distance from the camp, that a sufficiency for their sub- 

 sistence could be obtained. 



The two slopes of the ridge dividing the main forks of the 

 Platte, at the point where we crossed it, difier from each other in 

 a remarkable manner. On that toward the South Fork, the val- 

 leys are wide and long, with gracefully curved lines, gentle slopes, 

 and broad hollows. In numerous instances, these hollows are 

 without drainage, owing to which large circular or oval basins are 

 formed, in the bottoms of which water collects, forming quite ex- 

 tensive ponds or lakes : these, however, disappear during the sum- 

 mer, leaving their beds clothed with a rich, luxuriant growth of 

 herbage. On the opposite side of the summit the features of the 

 country present a striking contrast. Almost immediately after 

 crossing the point of "divide," we strike upon the head waters of 

 Ash Creek, whence the descent is abrupt and precipitous. Imme- 

 diately at your feet is the principal ravine, with sides four or five 

 hundred feet in depth, clothed with cedar: into this numerous 

 other ravines run, meeting it at different angles, and so completely 

 cutting up the earth, that scarcely a foot of level ground could be 

 seen. The whole surface consisted of merely narrow ridges, divid- 

 ing the ravines from each other, and running up to so sharp a 

 crest that it would be difficult for any thing but a mountain-goat 

 to traverse their summits with impunity. -Never before had I seen 

 the wonderful efiects of the action of water on a grand scale 

 more strikingly exemplified. 



