18 RECONNAISSANCE FROM CARROLL, MONTANA, 
green hue, splashed with white, and flows with great velocity ; its surface breaking into great waves 
and swirls. The mountains on either side are 2,000 or 3,000 feet in height, rising precipitously from 
the brink, and exhibiting dark browns and grays, contrasting with the deep, somber hue of the pines 
and the more sparkling green of the river, flecked with foam. 
Camp was made at the upper end of the cafion, on the bank. All the essentials for camping 
Camp in Second Were present, and trout abounded in the swift and turbulent waters. The gray- 
eaten: ling, a long, slender fish, of less weight than the trout, but rivaling it in activity 
and game qualities, competed successfully for the fly with the larger fish. 
August 13.—Started at 6.30 a. m., and soon afterward met Lieutenant Doane, with the pack- 
train. Thesix-mule team was exchanged for pack-mules, and, aftersome three hours’ 
delay, the journey was resumed. 
Cinnabar Mountain stands in the valley, on the right of the trail, and, as seen from any point 
of view, is a handsome peak. Looking from above it, on the river-bank, it stands 
out from the other elevations and makes a very striking picture. The strata are 
nearly vertical, with a perceptible overhang to the eastward, and strike nearly north and south. 
On the south front of the mountain is an immense “ Devil’s Slide”, with smooth, dark, nearly verti- 
cal walls, some 150 or 200 feet in height (the intervening material having been removed), which 
curve to the right in ascending and reach the summit. Adjoining this are broad bands of red and 
yellow, which follow the same curve, and seize the eye at once from their brilliancy of color and 
vivid contrast. 
The trail led us on up the valley, past two ranches, from which supplies were obtained, to 
CampatGardiners Within a few miles of Gardiner’s River. At this point, it leaves the valley of the 
River Hot Springs. —-Yellowstone, and, over a hilly route, passes across the angle between the two 
streams, until, at the farther side of a level, well-grassed piece of prairie, it reaches the valley in 
which the Mammoth Hot Springs are situated. The rain had descended heavily all the afternoon 
and continued into the night. 
August 14.—The day opened wet, but cleared in a few hours. A thorough examination was 
made of the springs, which well repaid it. 
They have been already described with great particularity and minuteness in the reports of 
Dr. Hayden and Captain Jones, and a few words of description from me will suffice. 
This remark is not to be confined to the locality of the springs, but must be understood as 
No fall description applying, and in a still greater degree, to the whole park, of which I shall not even 
lee attempt a full description, but content myself with recording only a few of the 
more prominent and enduring impressions received in our hurried visit. 
Pressed for time, with other work to do, our constant idea was one of eager haste, and we passed 
rapidly from place to place, thoroughly enjoying every hour, but always with some new wonder in 
advance, to divert our attention and to draw us on. 
The park scenery, as a whole, is too grand, its scope too immense, its details too varied and 
minute, to admit of adequate description, save by some great writer, who, with mind and pen equally 
trained, could seize upon the salient points, and, with just discrimination, throw into proper relief 
the varied features of mingled grandeur, wonder, and beauty. 
The Mammoth Hot Springs are the first point of interest in the park, the northern boundary 
Mammoth Hot Of Which was crossed yesterday some miles back. They occupy a small valley, 
SPHngSs discharging eastward into that of Gardiner’s River, and which the spring-deposits 
have partly filled. Our camp was pleasantly situated in the valley below the springs, among trees 
growing out of these deposits, in which occasional pits and holes 15 to 20 feet in depth existed. 
Above the camp rose the extinct spring, called, from the shape of the mausoleum which it had 
itself constructed, the “Liberty Cap”, or ‘“‘Giant’s Thumb”, and beyond this again a succession of 
terraces, rising to a height of some 200 feet, dazzling white in the sun, indicated the presence of 
the active springs, which, indeed, had all along been evident enough from the vast clouds of vapor 
constantly arising. The terraces exhibited great variety and beauty of form, much enhanced by 
the quiverivg and sheeny effect of the thin, descending sheets of water. 
The material is a carbonate of lime, deposited by the cooling of the waters, of a nearly pure 
white, aud, while wet, of a moderate hardness. Upon drying, the deposit becomes soft and friable, 
The pack-train met. 
Cinnabar Mountain. 
