MY FIRST NEAR VIEW OF A BUNCH OF ELK. 



snow fields, until we reached the 

 end, and found that it was impos- 

 sible to proceed on account of the 

 roughness of the country. 



We did not regret having gone so 

 far out of our way for, from this high 

 elevation we had a fine view of the 

 surrounding country, and, in a 

 snow-covered basin, away below 

 us, we could see a large band of 

 elk. 



This side of the valley is one rock 

 ridge after another, and the only 

 way to reach the elk, and the open- 

 ing above them — where we had 

 originally intended to go — was to 

 descend to the bottom of the valley, 

 over 1,000 feet below. The country 

 was so rough that it took us 3 hours 

 to go from the place where we first 

 saw the elk, to the basin just below 

 them. We disposed of our packs, 

 rested a few minutes, then started 

 in the direction of the elk, for the 

 purpose of getting a photograph of 



the band. After going a short dis- 

 tance we found the elk had moved 

 from the snow to a meadow just to 

 the left. We made our way toward 

 the meadow; by the time we had 

 reached the ridge nearest the elk, 

 they had all returned to the snow- 

 covered basin. 



We quickly passed over this 

 ridge, and, from behind bushes and 

 timber, I had my first near view of 

 a band of elk. There were 32 in the 

 band, 4 very large bulls, 3 smaller 

 ones, and 25 cows and calves. To 

 get my first snap-shot, I moved 

 slowly from behind the bushes and 

 stood in full view, still unobserved 

 by the elk. The distance was a little 

 too great for a satisfactory view, and 

 Mr. Hopper, who had joined me, ad- 

 vised me to rush toward the band 

 and to make an exposure at the 

 proper distance. This I did, and I 

 was more surprised than the elk. 

 Instead of the stampede 1 had antici- 



96 



