238 RED GATE — PRAIRIE — ELK MOUNTAINS. 



Our course lay down tlie valley of Bridger's Fork for three and 

 a-half miles, when it opens suddenly between two high cliffs of red 

 and green indurated clay, and strata of coarse-grit brown sand- 

 stone, upon a vast rolling prairie, extending from the Platte to 

 Snake River. To this opening we gave the name of <'Red Gate." 

 The general direction of the low range bounding the western side 

 of this prairie is about north-east and south-west. Upon entering 

 the plain, a magnificent view opened before us. On our right, to 

 the south and the east, extended the Elk Mountains, with their 

 blue peaks, in which the Elk River takes its rise ; to the left of 

 these rose a high square butte, marking where the three branches of 

 St. Vrain's Fork enter the Snake River. On our left stretched far 

 off to the northward the ascending ridge of prairie forming the ''di- 

 vide" between us and the waters of the Sweetwater and the North 

 Fork of the Platte, while before us, and at right angles with our 

 course, ran four rolling prairie ridges, the farthest of which, about 

 forty miles distant, formed the western boundary of the Park 

 Mountains. Bridger's Fork, the little stream whose valley we had 

 followed to the Gate, pursued a wandering course to the south- 

 east through the prairie, its existence marked only by an occasional 

 clump of willows. A few buffalo bulls were quietly grazing upon 

 the plain, and now and then a small herd of antelope, bounding 

 away over the hills, gave life and spirit to the picture. 



The soil from this point to Muddy Creek is for the most part 

 of an excellent quality, but, from want of moisture, can never be 

 appropriated to any other purpose than grazing. The grass, 

 though thin, is very nutritious. Small sage, salt grass, grease- 

 wood, a purple aster, together with bunch-grass, and, in the more 

 sandy portions, small cacti, were the principal plants. The tops 

 of the ridges were strewn with a flat, black gravel, with pebbles 

 of yellow and white quartz. An occasional drain was crossed, 

 which gave indications of having contained water quite recently ; 

 but all of these were now dry. As long as the water lasted, the 

 whole plain must have been covered with buffaloe and antelope, as 

 the profusion of "sign" abundantly proved; but as this indispen- 

 sable article was absorbed by the sandy soil, they seemed, from 

 the direction of their trails, to have struck a course for the Ver- 

 milion. Many large bear-tracks were also seen, making in the 

 same direction. 



After travelling six miles across this undulating prairie, we 

 reached the right bank of the valley of Muddy Creek, twenty-five 



