434 K. s. TARE — GLACIATION OF MOUNT KTAADN, MAINE 



evidence of local glaciation observed by Agassiz, Hitchcock, and others, 

 seemed to me to call for careful consideration. 



In 1897 the expedition was devoted to a general study of the highland 

 region of Maine, during which opportunity for detailed work in a single 

 locality could not he found ; hut certain phenomena suggesting local 

 glaciers in the neighborhood of Ktaadn were seen during this first expe- 

 dition and were made the object of a second expedition in June, 1899, 

 about ten days being spent in the woods at the eastern hase of mount 

 Ktaadn. Only a small region could he covered during the time avail- 

 able, for the difficulties in the way of geological study in the woods of 

 Maine are immense. Much of the traveling from place to place consists 

 of long detours in order to take advantage of trails and water-courses, 

 and when one leaves the beaten path he knows not what swampy tracts, 

 tangles of "blow-downs," or the still more difficult "pucker-bush" he 

 may encounter. Even where the way is fairly open and clear, the sur- 

 face is so completely covered with timber that details of land form are 

 exceedingly difficult to work out. Indeed, Hamlin stated that — 



"Entirely satisfactory determination of the nature of these ridges is impossihle 

 while they are, as at present, completely masked by dense thickets; but should 

 lire hereafter lay them bare, opportunity will be afforded for thorough examina- 

 tion before a new growth springs up." 



While it is not necessary, as Hamlin has suggested, for fires to clear 

 the surface in order that proof of valley glaciers may he seen, it is safe 

 to say that no very large amount of detailed work in glacial geology will 

 he possible in this part of Maine so long as the present forest cover 

 obscures the surface. 



During the two expeditions, aside from a visit toother parts of Maine, 

 including the ascent of several mountains, Ktaadn was ascended four 

 times along different routes, and a part of the region near the eastern 

 base was carefully examined. 



Glaciation of the high Mountains 



From the Adirondacks eastward and northeastward, far up into north- 

 eastern Maine, there is a mountain harrier, broken here and there by 

 numerous low passes. From this highland region northward the land 

 descends by a distinct slope to the Saint Lawrence, and then rises toward 

 the Labrador region, where there is a highland of moderate elevation. 



It is natural to suppose that such a barrier would have interfered 

 with the passage of a glacier having its origin in the Labrador region. 

 In fact, one of the most difficult conceptions that I have had to consider 



