20 RECONNAISSANCE IX NORTHERN ALASKA IN 1901. 



We arrived at Bottles April 14. and were hospitably eared for by Mr. Turner, 

 the agent at this post. The following' day we proceeded to Bergman to examine our 

 supplies, which had been sent in the previous season, and found them intact. 



RECONNAISSANCE UP ALATNA RIVER. 



The party was now divided into two parts for the purpose of reconnoitering a 

 route through the mountains to the Colville waters. Mr. Philip was placed in charge 

 of one of these, and, employing a native guide, ascended Alatna River" about 90 miles, 

 to its eastern branch — the Kutuark. On May 5. his provisions becoming exhausted 

 and the increased flow of water betokening a break-up, he turned back, after climbing 

 a mountain near the mouth of the Kutuark, from which the head of this stream 

 appeared to be completely surrounded by high mountains. The northern limit of 

 timber appeared a few miles above the confluence of the streams. Up the western 

 branch the timber extended as far as the valley floor could be seen. 



Returning, Mr. Philip reached Bergman May 10. On this trip a few natives on 

 their winter hunt for caribou were encountered. 



RECONNAISSANCE UP JOHN RIVER. 



On April 23, with the remainder of the party and a native, I started up John River. 

 The first day's march was over the lowlands and directly toward a gap in the moun- 

 tains. This direct course avoided many large bends in the river, and by night we 

 camped close to the foot of the mountains, having made 16 miles. April 24 we 

 entered the mountains, which rose from 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the valley, and 

 traveled over the frozen stream, with but few cut-offs. On this trip we overtook a 

 native woman, whose four previous camps we had passed. She was subsisting on 

 rabbits that she caught with primitive traps. Camp was made after a march of 

 10 miles. On April 25 overflows were frequently encountered in the morning, but 

 in the afternoon we were again in deep snow, which was soft, and necessitated the 

 breaking of a trail. This was very tedious work, as the trail had to be traveled 

 several times by all of the party and tramped down with snow shoes before it would 

 support the sled. Sixteen miles were made in this da} T 's march. Natives were seen 

 in the afternoon. On April 26 we were traveling in soft, deep snow, and after going 

 10 miles were glad to end the weary tramp. On April 27 more natives were seen, 

 who gave us the welcome information that little snow was ahead of us, and but little 

 further on was the bare ice of the frozen stream. In the afternoon another camp of 

 natives was found, and shortly after we ran onto bare ice, which was a great relief 

 to man and dog. The day's march was 17 miles. On April 28 the traveling was on 

 bare ice. Early in the morning we reached timber line and took on a supply of fire- 



n Called Allen River by Mendenhall in Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 10, 1902. 



