20 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



sheep, and other game indicated an old camp of hunters who had evi- 

 dently met with good success. 



On July 25 we started at sunrise to climb the high peak "before us. 

 A ride of about 8 miles led us, gradually ascending, to its immediate 

 base. The timber covering the ridge we rode along on was spruce, of 

 singularly regular growth and free from under brush and fallen trees. 

 As we approached timber-line, however, the remnants of former glaciers 

 and the accumulation of avalanchial drift rather impeded our progress. 

 Huge bowlders were piled on top of one another, forming, at times, 

 dams behind which small lakes had collected. Near timber-hue we 

 came across a band of mountain-sheep (Ovis montana) numbering over 

 100. Old rams, ewes, and lambs were all represented. Upon our ap- 

 proach they scampered off in a great hurry, but not before some had 

 been secured. Tying our mules securely to some dwarf pines (Pinus 

 contorta) growing at the extreme limit of timber we proceeded to ascend 

 the rocky slope on foot. Here again we met with a small band of sheep. 

 Fremont, in his report, frequently alludes to the large numbers he saw 

 in this range during his visit 35 years ago. He mentions them either 

 as " sheep" or " goats." The Eocky Mountain goat (Aploceras montanus) 

 is a totally different animal, occurring farther northwest. We found 

 that the sheep at this season of the year had not yet shed their winter 

 coats. Frequently the report that these sheep were covered with i ' wool " 

 has been regarded as one evolved entirely from the hunter's own con- 

 sciousness. Upon this occasion we found that the wool which they had 

 certainly carried during the winter was just shedding. A growth of 

 stiff hair, about three-quarters of an inch in length, was nearest to the 

 skin, and upon this we saw a layer of fine, light-gray wool, about half 

 an inch in thickness. It was at the time gradually being pushed off. 

 On some portions of the body the single hairs of wool could be directly 

 traced to the skin, not having as yet severed their connection. We 

 found this not only on a single specimen, but on all that were killed. 

 So far as we could determine, upon the rather hurried glimpse we had 

 of the entire band, all its members were in the same condition as regards 

 covering. 



Climbing over rocks and isolated patches of snow, we finally reached 

 the summit of the peak. By barometric measurement it was found to 

 be 12,700 feet high. By some of the settlers and on some maps this 

 mountain is designated as Fremont's Peak. Inasmuch as this latter is 

 over 40 miles farther north, however, the name cannot stand. Appro- 

 priate to its location and the pleasant remembrances we carried with us 

 from the neighboring post, we named this mountain Btambaugh Peak. 



July 26 we broke camp, and, after crossing the Sweetwater, ascended 

 a high ridge. Here we found very fine timber, with grassy soil under 

 foot. Before us lay the massive form of a mountain that has received 

 the name of Snow Peak. While riding along in the forest we met our 

 first band of elk (Ulaphus Canadensis). One succumbed to several rifle- 

 balls. The horns were still'" in velvet" and could not be preserved, but 

 the meat was much admired. Advancing toward the downward slope 

 of the ridge, we saw beneath us a large lake of remarkable clearness. 

 Beflecting the rugged hill-sides surrounding it, the varied coloring pre- 

 sented by bare rocks and dark spruce timber allowed but a small space 

 to remain for the image of a blue sky, with its white, floating clouds. 

 From where we stood it appeared impossible to descend the slope toward 

 the lake, and equally impossible to continue forward. We decided upon 

 the former. Clearing away timber and brush, making roads over the 

 vast fields of angular rock-fragments, and shding the mules down over 



