A MOSTR WITH THE MUIR GLACIER, 



65 



tecting ridge of rock, there would seem to be no limit to the 

 length of time the forest might be preserved. I see no rea- 

 son why this forest may not have existed before the Glacial 

 period itself. 



The existence of other forests similarly preserved in that 

 vicinity is amply witnessed to by many facts. One upon the 

 island near the west shore, four miles south, is now exposed 

 in a similarly protected position. Furthermore, the moraine, 

 already described on the east side of the inlet, contains much 

 wood ground up into slivers and fragments. Indeed, our 

 whole dependence during the month for fuel was upon such 

 fragments lying exposed in the moraine. Occasional chunks 

 of peat or compact masses of sphagnum formed a part of the 

 debris of this moraine. These also occurred on some of the 



Fig. 29 — Muir Glacier from an elevation of 1 ,800 feet. 



medial moraines on the eastern side. I did not go up them 

 far enough to learn directly their origin ; but, as no forests 



