TOWNSHIP DESCEIPTIONS. 103 



Grazing capacity. — A few hundred acres of alpine meadow land exist in the 

 southern and central areas. The tracts are not pastured. 



Drainage conditions. — The township is of importance by reason of the large 

 volumes of water constantly- discharged from its areas. The tarns and lakelets 

 constitute natural reservoirs, and great banks of snow or incipient glaciers lie 

 on the northern slopes of most of the higher elevations. The drainage flows 

 partly into Stillwater Eiver and partly into Clark Fork. 



SnoiD and rocTc slides. — Qf frequent occurrence, especially in the northern 

 areas. Mud slides carrjdng vast quantities of bowlders line many of the tarns 

 and are common on the slopes of the peaks. The ragged and serrated crests of 

 the ridges have enormous masses of overhang, from which avalanches of stones 

 and bowlders are continually descending into the canyons and building up the 

 talus slopes. 



Towns and settlennents. — None. 



Forest conditions. — The tract carries no forest. There are a few trees of 

 white-bark pine and Engelmann spruce scattered through the hollows or lining 

 the tarns in the southern areas. Most of the township lies at altitudes above 

 timber line, where low growths of willows replace arborescent vegetation. 



Reproduction. — Climatic conditions are such that much young growth is 

 impossible. In the sheltered hollows and ravines, up to elevations of 9,800 feet, 

 there will always be a few seedlings and saplings. Very rarely will one of them 

 grow to maturity, being broken off or uprooted by hdavy snows and fierce gales 

 as soon as any considerable size and spread of limbs are attained. 



Classificaiion of lands in V. S S., R. IS E. ' i 



Acres. 

 Forested None. 



Nonf orested 23, 040 



Agricultural None. 



Grazing , 3, 000 



Bare rocks, alpine snowbanks, and incipient glaciers 18, 000 



Lakelets, tarns, and streams 2, 040 



Township 8 South, Range 16 East. 



The township consists of a high, rugged mass of mountains, mostly situated 

 above the 9,500-foot contour, with peaks and ridges rising to 12,900 feet. It 

 al5ounds with peaks, serrated and pinnacled crests and ridges, canyons, precipices, 

 and alpine lakelets and tarns. 



The township is uninhabited. The surface consists chiefly of bare rock. None 

 of the areas are agricultural in character. Swampy meadows, fringing the alpine 

 tarns, are met with here and there, but they are practically inaccessible to stock. 



