236 



Sierra Chtb Bulletin. 



On scanning the crest of the Goddard Divide there 

 appeared to be one place far around to the east that 

 looked like a pass. I had observed the creek-bed carefully 

 during the morning's climb, and felt reasonably certain 

 that a burro or sure-footed mule could be brought up this 

 far. If a pass could nov^ be discovered over the Goddard 

 Divide, the problem of reaching the sources of the Middle 

 Fork of King's River would be solved. So I took my way 

 around the shores of these Crystal Lakes, and spent up- 

 wards of an hour in working out a way up to the notch. 

 At exactly 12 o'clock the top was reached. The other 

 side, as I had feared, broke down in the savage black 

 gorges of the Middle Fork region, which were choked 

 with snow and frozen lakes far down below. It would 

 certainly be an impossibility to get an animal down any- 

 where along this part of the divide when the snow was 

 deep, and even late in the season the success of such an 

 undertaking would be very doubtful. Another thing 

 which strengthens my opinion that the place could not be 

 used as a pass is, that no signs of sheep are to be found 

 there. 



Far across the Middle Fork basin were piled up the 

 great black peaks, a perfect wilderness which as yet is 

 but imperfectly known. A few miles to the south rose 

 a particularly inviting point, which certainly commands 

 a peerless view. But time forbade an ascent this year, so 

 I named it the Black Giant, and wondered how long it 

 would stand as it has so far stood, an untrodden summit. 

 I remained on the crest an hour, mapped as much of the 

 country as I could, ate lunch, and just before leaving 

 scrambled some distance down the King's River side 

 to get a better look down the canon. Then I started back, 



