22 RECONNAISSANCE IN NORTHERN ALASKA IN 1901. 



A horse was hired, to be used Inter in packing across the divide, and T. M. Hunt 

 was instructed to provide himself with ten days' provisions and proceed up the valley 

 of John River to good grazing, there to await the arrival of the party, which would 

 work up the river in canoes. The canoes started June 13. when the water was high 

 and very swift. Progress was best made by reaching out from the bow of the canoe, 

 clinging and hauling on projecting bough branches and snags (which is known as 

 ••milking the brush"), and aiding the advance by the judicious use of a pole from 

 the stern. High water gradually decreased until June 27, from which time on poling 

 and tracking were more advantageous. Working canoes up this stream necessitated 

 constant wading in the water at a temperature of about 50 J . No ill effects, however, 

 were observed in any of the party. Snow had by this time disappeared, except on 

 some of the highest mountains. Occasional stops of one day each were made to 

 ascend prominent points to carry on the mapping. The northern limit of spruce was 

 passed July 8. Beyond this was a thin growth of willows along the stream and its 

 tributaries. On July 9 we passed through a narrow gorge in which the stream was 

 very swift and manj" bowlders occurred. This was one of the most dangerous parts 

 of the river, and from this point to the camp of July 15 the river was a constant suc- 

 cession of rapids and dangerous rocks, and should not be descended in boats by any 

 one unfamiliar with it. Between camp July 15 and camp July 16 the stream is slug- 

 gish. Above the latter point it spreads out, becoming shallow and swift. From 

 camp July 17 the outfit was packed over by the men and horse to a small lake which 

 empties into the Anaktuvuk, and which 1 have called Cache Lake. Numerous small 

 lakes occur in the pass and along the sluggish parts of the stream. 



Grayling abound in the lakes and in the pools that occur in the streams. Several 

 caribou were shot, and signs of goats were frequent on the mountain tops. Every- 

 thing having been packed over to Cache Lake, on July 22 mail and reports were 

 intrusted to a native, together with the horse, to take back to Bettles. 



On July 24 the party started down the Anaktuvuk. About 4 or 5 miles above 

 camp Ju1a t 28 the mountains end and the stream runs through rolling tundra in a 

 fairly straight course. The channel frequently spreads out and becomes so shallow 

 that wading had to be resorted to in order to lighten the canoes. Manj^ caribou 

 were seen, and one was shot. A small grove of balm of gilead, consisting of about 

 a dozen trees, was passed August 3. Mosquitoes, which had been extremelj' annoy- 

 ing since June 14, had practically disappeared. Redtop grass was seen growdng in 

 many places, particularly at camp August 5. Between camp August 6 and the 

 mouth of the Anaktuvuk willows became thicker, and some were several inches 

 in diameter. Among these were scattered a dozen or two balm of gilead, which, 

 growing to a height of about 30 feet, look gigantic in the absence of other timber. 

 The stream flows through a country that is almost flat, covered with moss, and dotted 

 with small lakes. 



