232 C. C. Parry: Physiographical Sketch 
snow-drifts, and mounting to its irregular crests and high eo 
peaks, was spent most of the summer months of 1861. The 
scientific results of the observations here made, are presented In 
the following brief sketch and the accompanying list of plants. 
The first impression made upon the traveller in approaching 
the mountain barrier from the broad undulating slope of the 
Great Plains, is the irregularity of outline and apparent want of 
system in the grouping and arrangement of the different ridges 
which compose the general mass of the mountain range. _ Some 
points along the eastern slope. Numerous cross ridges interrupt 
the general parallelism of the principal ranges, and the actual 
“ divide” is mostly obscured from view by elevated projecting 
mpeen The streams with their impetuous currents foaming alo” 
their rocky channels: descend in a zigzag course, making 18 
passage through intervening ridges by deep precipitous chasms. 
On reaching the more elevated mountain district, the valleys be- 
come more open, and frequently spread out into oval- haped 
basins, to which the name of bars has been applied by the miners. 
Towards the head waters of the various streams, these basin 
shaped portions of the principal valleys, beset with scatterté 
ves of pine, encircled by steep ridges, generally clothed wit 
North, South, and Middle Parks. the 
In approaching the dividing ridge, by following up any of ti 
principal streams by which the mountain range is penetra ‘Ny 
the open parks give place to narrow valleys, generally — 
timbered with pine and spruce. The water-courses force t val 
way through narrow rocky cafions, or, obstructed by ce" of 
dams, spread out into marshes occupied by a tangled growts 
willow and alder bushes, - 11e frott 
The smaller tributaries which collect the waters that trickle" 
alpine snows ebb and flow with the diurnal changes of tem icy 
ature, increasing in volume as the sun ascends to relax the Pal 
bonds of a protracted winter, and again contracting as ee on 
night once more asserts the reign of perpetual frost. ~"'» 
alpine brooks constitute one of the most attractive features” 
ocky mountain scenery, and along their borders grow of 8 
of vad finest plants of this region. ee course 18 are 
continuous forrent, presenting in their rapid descent a P 
sheet of foam, rivaling in a iteness he snows in which. 
have their sources. Their waters of crystal puri and del oot 
oolness glisten in the deep shade of sash nae A pines, 
