GA-N^ETT.] GEOGEAPIIY ELK MOUNTAINS. 417 



mouth of its North Fork on the south and west. The whole area covered 

 by this system is about three thousand two hundred square miles. This 

 estimate covers not only the high mountain region, but also all the spurs 

 directly connected with the range, thus including much rolling and val- 

 ley countr3\ 



The principal part of this mountain system is in the form of a series 

 of parallel ranges connected transversely by low saddles, and having a 

 direction about north 30° west and south 30° east, or essentially the 

 same direction as the Sawatch and Park ranges and other ranges in 

 Colorado. The most important of these ranges, both in height and con- 

 tinuity, is the most eastern, the one which is terminated on the north by 

 Sopris' Peak, and includes Capitol Peak, Snowmass Mountain, Castle 

 Peak, and others of the principal peaks of the system. This range joins 

 the Sawatch range in a heavy, broad, and comparatively low ridge, iu 

 latitude 38° 45'. 



Farther west, the parallel ranges are not as continuous, or as high, 

 but all have a uniform direction, until we reach the western part of the 

 system. In about the longitude of the head of Ohio Creek, i. e., longi- 

 tude 107° 5', the character of the grouping changes, and the mountains are 

 in isolated gToups, irregularly disposed. But here, as farther east, the 

 drainage still has the same direction, slightly west of north and east of 

 south, as is the case with Ohio Creek, Anthracite Creek, and manj^ 

 others, as is seen by a glance at the map. 



The drainage of the Elk Mountains toward the north into the Grand 

 is carried entirely by Eoaring Fork and its branches; to the south by 

 the Gunnison and its branches from the north above its North Fork ; 

 and on the west by the North Fork of the Gunnison. 



Frying-Pan Creek, one of the largest branches of Eoaring Fork, is 

 in a very narrow valley, or close canon throughout its course, from the 

 Sawatch range to its mouth. It is bordered on each side by broad, high 

 ridges, reaching to the timber-line or above. The same broad, massive 

 character appertains to the ridges separating all the branches, which 

 unite to form Eoaring Fork, as far around toward the west as Castle 

 Creek. Here we reach the principal range of the Elk Mountains, and 

 the character of the mountain-forms changes materially. The broad, 

 massive ridges give way to sharp, conical peaks, ragged, serrated 

 ridges, pinnacles, and spires. They increase in elevation from 11,000 or 

 ] 2,000 feet to 13,000 or 14,000. The mountains present great diversity 

 of colors, some being of light-gray trachyte, others of red, maroon, aud 

 brown sandstone. 



The principal range of this mountain system separates Eoaring Fork 

 from Eock Creek. It is a very well defined range as far south as the 

 divide, and a few miles beyond. Farther south it diminishes in eleva- 

 tion and loses its distinctive character, in a number of spurs, separating 

 branches of the Gunnison. Of this range, Sopris Peak is the most 

 northern summit. It rises abruptly from the broad, flat valley of Eoar- 

 ing Fork to a height of 7,000 feet above it. It is a very massive moun- 

 tain, covering, with its broad spurs, ao enormous extent of country, and 

 standing alone, as it does, is a very conspicuous and well-known land- 

 mark in all the surrounding country. 



South of Sopris peak, the range falls to a height little above the limit 

 of timber; this comparatively low ridge extends, with little change in. 

 elevation, to Capitol Mountain, one of the crowning summits of the range, 

 whose gray, prism-shaped top and precipitous sides forbid access. 

 A ragged spur running from Capitol Mountain northeastward separates 

 Capitol and Snowmass Creeks. It bears, near its end, a high summit, 

 27 H 



