136 ABSAKOKA DIVISION OF TELLOWSTOH B FOREST KESEKVB. 



which, from a variety of causes, have never restocked. The grazing areas in the 

 strictly alpine regions are confined to the high tracts above the 9,200-foot contour 

 in the Absaroka ranges. The fire glades in the subalpine forest occur in all the 

 mountain areas. 



Originally the plains were well stocked with a luxurious growth of bunch 

 grasses. They were easy of access, sufficiently well watered for the stockman's 

 needs, and in every way suitable for range purposes, but they have been excessively 

 pastured, and their present grazing value is exceedingly low where not inclosed. 

 The inclosed areas show a decided betterment, and with freedom for a few years 

 from excessive pasturing of both cattle and sheep, would show a great improvement. 

 As it now stands there is a small amount of grass early in the summer. In a 

 few weeks cattle and sheep have exhausted it, and during the greater portion of the 

 year the tracts afford only the scantiest grazing or none at all. 



The alpine areas, mostly located above timber line, are closely covered with a 

 tough sward of low alpine and subalpine grasses and sedges. All are more or 

 less difficult of access, which fact, together with the short season, has prevented 

 any extensive use being made of them. Most of the lands of this character in 

 these ranges appear never to have been pastured by any domestic animals except 

 by horses belonging to the prospectors of the region. 



The subalpine areas have been grazed to a limited extent, mostly on the Bridger 

 and Gallatin ranges, because they front directly on the plains and are therefore easy 

 of access, while the subalpine areas in the adjoining ranges occur mostly in the 

 interior. This class of grazing lands is as yet in. a fair condition. 



BARE ROCK AND HIGH ALPINE AREAS. 



Extensive tracts of this character occur throughout all the mountain areas and 

 in the aggregate thej'^ comprise nearly 10 per cent of the quadrangle. The upper 

 slopes of Bridger Range are mostly bare rock, the crests and higher slopes contrib- 

 uting the larger proportion. These localities are often so steep that no soil can 

 adhere or find lodgment, and in consequence vegetation is lacking. The alpine 

 regions comprise snow fields on the northern slopes, sharp steep peaks, and mud 

 slides formed of talus debris. 



LAKES AND TARNS. 



The lakes and tarns cover 0.5 per cent of the quadrangle. Their origin is due 

 to the effects of glacial erosion. Most of them lie in hollows and in glacial cirques 

 on the summit of the alpine plateau areas and near the heads of the different streams. 

 In a few cases they are held back by rocky barriei's across their outlets, but in the 

 majority of cases bj^ morainic accumulations. All of them are small in areal extent 

 and of shallow depth, but nevertheless form series of natural reservoirs of marked 

 importance in the regimen of the streams which head in them. 



