51 



of sedimentary rock through its whole extent of 80 miles. With the 

 Elk Mountains the ease is very different, and some of their striking 

 and peculiar features are brought clearly to light by these views. 

 They have a wonderful variety of coloring also, which unhappily pho- 

 graphy is unable to reproduce. From the top of Italian Mountain, for 

 example, (so named from its presenting in brilliancy the Italian colors, 

 red, white, and green,) nearly the whole structure of the group can be 

 read in the contrasts of coloring: the light gray of the granitic and 

 eruptive nucleus, with the numberless peaks of sandstone about it, the 

 Strata conspicuously dipping away in every direction, and in two shades 

 of red, a lighter and a darker, the latter a rich maroon color. There 

 are few more beautiful scenes than the Grand Teocalli, as seen from 

 the mouth of the short valley (some three mil.es lottg and a mile broad, 

 between high walls) which leads from it down to the East River, a vast 

 pyramid, 2,700 feet high, of most regular form, in bare steps and 

 courses of maroon red at the summit, and with the same color blushing, 

 as it were, with a most peculiar effect, through the thin, grassy cover- 

 ing of its lower slopes. 



Besides these grander views, illustrative of the geography and 

 geology of the region, there is the usual proportion, in the usual vari- 

 ety, of minor items of scenery, such as waterfalls, lakes, natural 

 bridges, bits of ravine, and strange rock-forms. Conspicuous among 

 these last are the almost incredible shapes of eroded sandstone columns 

 in Monument Park. 



W. 1). W. 



11 X lb 



NOS. Hi. 17. Logo's PEAK. VIEW FROM BSTBS Pakk. on the northwest, 

 distant about twelve miles from the summit. The park is 

 about tour by six miles in diameter, lying inside the foot-hill 

 range and close under the main range. Being well sheltered 



and easy of access, it is proving to he a most excellent pas- 

 ture for large herds of cattle. A few families have also 

 settled here, and taken up permanent homesteads. Jt is 

 (piite a pleasure-resort, and as the only practicable route for 

 ascending the peak leads up from this valley, it is destined 

 to become a favorite stopping-place for health seeker and 

 traveler. The Big Thompson, draining all this region, is an 

 excellent trout stream, and in season affords most excellent 

 fishing. 



Long's Peak, as seen from the plains, is the most promi- 

 nent in the front range, rising sharply high above the stir 

 rounding peaks. Its ( ■ vation is 1 LOSS feet, and about 6,300 

 feet above the park. Composed entirely of the primitive rocks, 

 it has bold, decided outlines, great walls, and deep canons, 

 and about its northwestern base particularly, are said to be 

 gorges and canons among the grandest on the continent. 



Its summit is divided into tWO sharp crests, the most west 

 era one being the highest and most difficult of ascent. The 

 trail leads directly up to timber-line, and then passes around 

 to the north and west, from which direction only the summit 

 can be reached. No. 47 is from Prospect Mountain, standing 

 isolated on the southern edge of the park, about 1,000 feet 

 in height, and affording most excellent panoramic views. 

 y os< 48-50. Lonc's Peak, a panoramic view, in three sections, from the 



