60 



tooted for the purpose of working them. The mountain was 



named on account of tins wealth which its rocks contain. 

 No. 101. A VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS LYING NORTH AND WEST FROM 



Snow Mass. one of its peaks showing upon the extreme 

 right. A little to its left is the Capitol, one of the prominent 

 peaks, as seen from the east, and whose elevation is 13,829 

 feet. The Stratified rocks shown in the view have been in- 

 verted by some convulsion, and occurred in an inverse order 

 from those near by, in place. Ooming down from the snow- 

 lields at the foot of the peaks is Rock Creek, tumbling over the 

 rocks in a most beautiful series of cascades, fully 600 feet in 

 height. Immediately above theCascadesis Elk Lake, (Xo. 08.) 

 Below, the creek tlows down through a very deep gorge, ami 

 a Stall deeper and darker canon to its junction with the Grande. 

 Nos. 102-104. a panoramic view of the Elk Mountains, in three 



sections, from near White Rock Mountains, embracing the 

 southern half of the horizon. The first view is of White Rock, 

 looking west from a long Spur or sharp dividing crest which 

 separates two large amphitheaters, oue on the righl debouch- 

 ing into East River on the north, and the other via Teocalli 

 Creek on the south. This mountain is a portion of the main 

 granitic core, extending northward to the Snow Mass, Capi- 

 tol, and Sopris, and is so named from a mass of light-colored 

 rock, disintegrating into sand, that breaks out upon its sum- 

 mit The height of White Rock is 13,563 feet. In the south, 

 as shown in No. L03, is the beautiful pyramidal mountain Too- 

 caeli, deriving its name from the Aztec sacrificial pyramid, 

 or teocalli. Its upper portion is of beautifully stratified sand- 

 Btone, rising by steps and broken into many little sharp pinna- 

 cles and towers. It is best seen from the opposite side. (See 

 Xo.37 of the following 5 x S series.) The third view embraces 

 some of the highest and most conspicuous of the singular 

 sandstone peaks which surround the center of the range. 

 Chief among them is Castle Peak, from the wierd towers, by 

 which its central pyramid is tlanked on either side. It is a 

 bright, rich red, distinctly banded by its stratification, and 

 rising up in sharp blade like crests to the summit. Its 

 elevation is 14,041 feet, and that of Teocaeli 12,880 feet. 

 This side of Castle Peak are two lesser pyramids, very char- 

 acteristic of the system, and present their peculiarities more 

 distinctly. Away in extreme distance the broad summit 

 of Grizzly and the sharp crest of La IMatta are distinctly 

 seen. 

 Nos. 105, 100, 107. The Mount of the Holy ObosS, three views, 

 showing first the approaches from a distance, then the 

 cioss itself, from a high point immediately opposite J and 

 third, the Roches Moutonincs, or Sheep-Backed Rocks, shown in 

 the valley of the first view. 

 The following written extracts from a letter, by Prof. A. I). Whitney, of 

 Tale College, who accompanied the party to the summit of the mount, de- 

 scribes the series perfectly, and some of the difficulties encountered in 

 securing the views : 



Monday, August 24th.— The Mount of the Holy 0r< ss has been thor- 

 oughly done at last, but at a cost of time and labor which was not at 

 all anticipated. It may be only after years, if at all, that another party 



