TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 19 
aud a hunting-knife could be easily plunged into it to the hilt. The main springs occupy the upper 
portion of the terrace, and spread out into large limpid pools of a superb blue tint, boiling violently 
in places, and emitting clouds of steam. Overflowing the pools, the waters escape down the face of 
the terraces, and, in cooling, gradually part with the carbonate held in solution, making constant 
additions to the ornamentations of the surfaces, and constructing scalloped pools and “ bath-tubs” 
of every form and temperature. 
The whole vicinity of the springs returns a hollow echo to the tread, highly suggestive of pit- 
falls beneath. The party, however, ov erran the neighborhood, at first with tentative step, and 
afterward with all confidence, no accident occurring. Remains of extinct springs abound above 
and below the active ones, while still others in full flow exist near the river’s edge. 
The grass in the valley of the springs is poor, but on the small prairie above is excellent. Wood 
and cold water are sufficiently abundant and convenient. 
There are two “ranches” near the springs, which do daty as “ hotels”, and are available for the 
use of travelers. 
August 15.—Wagons can be taken as far as the springs without much difficulty; the road having 
been made entirely practicable, though of an occasionally undesirable steepness. At the springs, 
however, wheels must be abandoned, and everything carried upon pack-animals. 
The odometer-cart was left behind, both on account of the difficulty of getting it aloug, and 
the danger of rendering it unfit for use on the return trip to Carroll. The mean 
solar chronometer was left with it, in charge of the “hotel”-keeper, and the sidereal 
was rolled in a bundle of bedding, and intrusted to the somewhat uncertain fortunes of the packs. 
All other reductions had heen made at Eliis, and camp was broken at 8.15 a. m.; the “outfit” con- 
sisting, besides the party and the engineer soldiers, of three packers, a farrier, and a cook, in all 
twenty-two persons and thirty-three animals, of which eleven were pack-mules carrying about two 
hundred pounds. 
The trail (a bridle-path only) leads up the valley of Gardiner’s River (which is of considerable 
depth, and slopes steeply down to the water’s edge) across the West Fork, and ie cdemaeetaioiae 
then the East, gradually climbing the eastern side of the valley to a plateau, ley. 
whence on the right of the trail descend the waters of the river, and form a very pretty fall. The 
slopes of the river-valley are composed of loose basaltic débris, making a toilsome path, deeply 
gashed in places by washings from the foot of the great basaltic wall which towers above it on 
the east. Although not insecure, the ascent to the plateau is unnecessarily difficult, and a little 
labor expended upon it would serve to improve it greatly. 
The falls are some 20 feet in width, and make three plunges, estimated at about 
45, 55, and 30 feet each ; in all a descent of 130 feet. 
Leaving the river,fthe trail follows up in an easterly direction the shallow valley of a small 
brook called Black Tail Deer Creek, which traverses an open hilly prairie, and 
affords an excellent and easily-traveled road. Reaching the head of the creek, the ere gar Pa Mlewitone 
trail bore to the right, through a dry cailony place to the edge of the valley of @Y"* 
Meadow Brook, where, turning sharply to the left, it descends along a steep high slope, out of which 
the narrow trail is cut, to a fine open meadow, well grassed and watered, where camp was made, 
thirteen miles from the springs. Several of the party rode on a mile and a half Vo tone ives 
farther to the Yellowstone River. It was found to be a foaming torrent, some 60 near the fulls. 
feet in width, with steep rocky banks. The water, a rich green in hue, was broken into pools and 
eddies by obstructing bowlders, and a strong odor of sulphur pervaded the air. hiaiiaga-uebe Bie 
Spanning the stream is a rough bridge some 80 feet in length, res ting upon cribs Yellowstone. 
at either extremity, and affording a passage to the east bank, where, at a short distance from the 
“bridge”, is the “ranch” of Jack Baronet. 
Two or three miles below the “ bridge”, the two forks of the¥ellowstone unite, and, to the 
traveler approaching it, the locality is marked by a large flat-topped butte, with steep escarpmeuts, 
which stands in the angle, and from its shape is a noticeable object, contrasting with the pointed 
hills and peaks which surround it. The West Fork drains the lake, and the Hast, a mountainous dis. 
trict not yet thoroughly examined. 
The pack ‘‘ outfit.” 
Gardiner’s River Falls. 
