SO UR CES OF THE SA SKA TCHE WAN 1 21 



in foaming breakers and dark whirlpools. For a mile or so above 

 this fall there is a fine trail through a light pine forest, and then 

 comes a burnt area with trees crossed in such confusion that it 

 required two hours to make half a mile, and we were so much 

 delayed here that our progress for the day could not have been 

 more than three miles in nearly six hours. 



On the following two days we advanced about 10 miles up the 

 valley, having a trail wherever there were green forests, but suf- 

 fering much delay from burnt timber and muskegs. On one 

 occasion when marching along a steep bank of the river a pack- 

 horse stumbled among loose logs and rolled over into a deep 

 pool. The horse was carrying over 200 pounds of flour, a bur- 

 den that kept it for a short time at the bottom of the river, but 

 after some violent struggles it came right side up and climbed 

 out. No damage was done, however, as flour absorbs water only 

 to a slight depth and very soon makes an impervious la} r er on 

 the outside. 



Ten miles up the river a stream from the west unites with the 

 North Fork. As the two streams are about equal in size we 

 were at a loss which one to follow in order to reach the Atha- 

 basca. In order to get a more extended view of the country, 

 an ascent was made of a mountain which lies between the two 

 rivers. On the summit, at an altitude of 8,400 feet, it was 

 seen that the western stream takes its source in a large glacier 

 about 12 miles distant. A fair idea of the branch streams was 

 given by the valley openings, but it must be confessed that less 

 is known about this river than of any other source of the Sas- 

 katchewan under discussion. As a result of this ascent we were 

 firm in the belief that our route did not lie up the western 

 branch. The other valley, however, seemed exceedingly deep, 

 canyon-like, in the very short distance that it was visible at all. 

 Though the air was smoky from forest fires, in spite of consider- 

 able rainy weather of late, I tried some photographic work, and 

 during a brief but fatal moment, when I was reaching for a plate- 

 holder, the strong wind blew my camera over and broke it badly 

 on the rough limestone rocks. The most fragile parts, the ground 

 glass and lens, fortunately escaped, while the wood and brass 

 work were in pieces. With a tool-box carried for such emergen- 

 cies the camera was reconstructed after a few hours' labor and 

 did excellent work later in the trip. Our men returned in the 

 evening and reported that there was a trail in the deep valley to 

 the northwest. 



