Sketches of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. 997 
miles in east and west extent, and one hundred and fifty miles from 
north to south, was covered with lava and other ejectamenta, ren- 
dering it uninhabitable by animal life. The volcanic materials are 
found for several hundred miles to the north, àt some points con- 
tinuously with the great tract I have mentioned. The exact 
connection with the latter remains to be ascertained ; but both were 
deposited at about the same geological period ; viz.: from some time 
in the Eocene to late in the Miocene ages. The area covered is not 
less than 1,600,000 square miles in extent, embracing all of central 
and southern Oregon and southern Idaho, and large tracts in 
Tacoma, Territory. As an offset to this terrible and unexampled 
desolation of one of the fairest parts of the earth’s surface, we have 
the great snow-peaks standing as silent and imperishable monu- 
menis of one of the most tremendous of the wars of the elements 
that the later earth has experienced. 
The grand tour of Oregon is commenced by crossing the gap in 
the Cascade range at Ashland, just north of the California border, 
and visiting the Klamath Lake on the eastern side of the water- 
shed. Turning northward, the tourist should visit the Crater Lake, 
twenty-five miles from Fort Klamath, and return. Then go north- 
ward again on the edge of the plateau that overlooks the valley of 
the Des Chutes River toward the west, from which the highest of 
the ranges of the Cascades rise, and may be seen in all their mag- 
nificence. Continuing on this road, now a stage route, the Dalles 
of the Columbia river are reached. Thence take the steamer down 
the river for Portland. The scenery of the long pass of the Colum- 
bia through the Cascade Mountains has been often praised, but 
never too highly. From Portland excellent means of transpor- 
tation south, up the Willamet valley, will return the traveller to 
Ashland again, and the grand tour is completed. A trip from 
Portland to the resorts on the coast-range must not be omitted, for 
from these can be seen, it is said, twenty of the snow-capped sum- 
mits of Oregon and Tacoma (Washington), on the one side, and the 
boundless waters of the Pacific Ocean on the other. - 
The traveller must make this journey in a private conveyance, if 
he can do so, excepting as to the Columbia River. He should 
commence at Sisson’s, at Mount Shasta, in northern California, 
Then he will see the mountains in all their changing moods at his 
