The Ascent of San Antonio. 129 



ever beautiful San Gabriel Valley, while westward is the 

 intricate maze of the San Gabriel Canon. From San 

 Antonio to Mt. Wilson, in the first range, the distance 

 is about twenty miles. Between is the enormous basin 

 drained by the San Gabriel River. This watershed is 

 marked in all directions by a perfect tangle of canons. 



Many of these canons pass between precipitous walls 

 of great height, and their scenery would prove attractive 

 even to those accustomed to the great canons of the 

 Sierra Nevada. Many small mountains rise from the 

 basin, but none sufficiently high to obstruct the view. 

 Mts. Wilson, Lowe, and San Gabriel are prominent 

 points of the first range. 



Unfortunately, our view was obstructed by clouds and 

 by a thick haze of smoke and dust. On clear days it is 

 possible to obtain views of the Colorado River as far 

 south as Yuma. To the southwest San Diego is visible, 

 while the coast can be traced for a long distance. The 

 islands of San Clemente and Santa Catalina can be dis- 

 tinctly seen, with a great expanse of ocean. To the south 

 and east lie vast stretches of the Mojave and Colorado 

 deserts. It is said that Mt. Whitney is visible, but clouds 

 rendered it impossible for us to determine this matter. 

 Our disappointment was somewhat mitigated by the con- 

 sideration that, even had the view not been obscured, we 

 could not have fully enjoyed it, on account of the wind, 

 which not only rendered a standing position extremely 

 difficult to maintain, but caused such a flow of tears as 

 to interfere with vision. 



Back of the Coast Survey monument some person had 

 made in the loose rock a gravelike excavation about a 

 foot deep, and had constructed along one side a stone 



