320 University of California . [vol. 3. 



the valley floor may be placed at over 8,200 feet. The general 

 aspect of the valley is greatly modified in places and rendered 

 extremely interesting, both from a scenic and from a geological 

 point of view, by the presence of several well preserved volcanic 

 cones. Six of these came within the writer's observation, two at 

 close quarters by climbing to their summits and the other four 

 only in somewhat distant views. The two which were climbed 

 li<- fairly in Toowa Valley and appear as if sessile upon its floor. 

 One of these is situated about five miles east of the Kern River 

 and has an altitude which is estimated at about 400 feet above 

 the general level of the valley. The crater of this cone is 

 breached on its eastern side, and it has been the source of lava 

 streams which, in part, have been spread out in all directions 

 about the base of the cone, and in part have flowed down Volcano 

 Creek almost to the bottom of Kern Canon. This lava stream 

 filled a gorge in the lower part of Volcano Creek, which had 

 been cut down nearly to the present Kern level, and, since the 

 gorge was thus filled, the stream has cut a new gorge, which 

 descends hy a series of cascades, partly in the lava and partly 

 between the lava and the granite, to the Kern. (Plate 35 b). 

 Above this gorge the drainage of Volcano Creek has been vari- 

 ously obstructed by the lavas, the general result of which has 

 been to crowd the stream to the north and northeast sides of the 

 valley. 



The second volcano is situated about two miles and a half 

 east of the last, almost directly opposite the point where the 

 upper stretches of Volcano Creek and the South Fork converge 

 and enter Toowa Valley. It is a cinder cone and has an esti- 

 mated height of 600 feet above the valley floor, occupying almost 

 the entire width of the valley bottom . Its crater ring has a diameter 

 of probably 1,200 feet, and its slopes are the slope of repose of the 

 loose lapilli and ashes of which it is chiefly composed. Its crater 

 is breached on the north side, but no important lava stream 

 appears to have issued from the breach. 



Immediately opposite this volcano on the rocky mountain 

 slope of Toowa Valley, perched on a granite knoll, is another 

 small volcano. It appears to consist chiefly of lava when viewed 

 from a distance, but no important stream has issued from the 



