Rocky Mountains. 25 



large red cedar tree, near the spring, intending It for a sup- 

 ply on our return, we took leave of Lieutenant Swift and 

 began to ascend the mountain. We carried with us, each a 

 small blanket, ten or twelve pounds of bison meat, three gills 

 of parched-corn meal, and a small kettle. 



The sandstone extends westward from the springs, about 

 three hundred yards, rising rapidly upon the base of the 

 mountain. It is of a deep red colour, usually compact and 

 fine, but sometimes embracing angular fragments of petro- 

 silx and other siUcious stones, with a few organic impres- 

 sions. The granite which succeeds it, is coarse, and of a deep 

 red colour. Some loose fragments of gneiss, were seen lying 

 aboiit the surface, but none in place. The granite at the base 

 of the mountain, contains a large proportion of feldspar of 

 the rose-coloured variety, in imperfect cubic crystals, and 

 disintegrating rapidly under the operation of frost and other 

 causes, crumbling into small masses of half an ounce weight 

 or less. 



In ascending, we found the surface in many places, cover- 

 ed with this loose and crumbled granite, rolling from under 

 our feet, and rendering the ascent extremely difficult. We 

 began to credit the assertions of the guide, who had conduct- 

 ed us to the foot of the Peakj and left us with the assurance, 

 that the whole of the mountain to its summit, was covered 

 with loose sand and gravel, so that though many attempts 

 had been made by the Indians and by hunters to ascend it, 

 none had ever proved successful. We passed several of these 

 tracks, not without some apprehension for our lives, as there 

 was danger when the foot-hold was once lost of sliding down, 

 and being thrown over precipices. 



After clambering with extreme fatigue over about two miles, 

 in which several of these dangerous places occurred, we 

 halted at sunset in a small cluster of fir trees. We could not, 

 however, find a piece of even ground large enough to lie 

 down upon, and were under the necessity of securing our- 



VOL. IT. 4 



