10 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



of the snow, will run down a moose or red 

 deer. 



We made very slow progress after leaving 

 this party, on account of the deep snow, 

 but continued along the river until we 

 reached its junction with the Athabasca or 

 Elk River. We obtained observations on 

 an island, a little below the Forks, which 

 gave, longitude 111° 8' 42" W., variation 

 24° 18' 20" E. Very little wood was seen 

 during this day's march. The western 

 shore, near the Forks, is destitute of trees ; 

 it is composed of lofty perpendicular cliffs, 

 which were now covered with snow. The 

 eastern shore supports a few pines. 



March 18. — Soon after our departure 

 from the encampment, we met two men 

 from the establishment at Pierre au Calu- 

 met, who gave us correct information of its 

 situation and distance. Having the benefit 

 of their track, we marched at a tolerably 

 quick pace, and made twenty-two miles in 

 the course of the day, though the weather 

 was very disagreeable for travelling, being 

 stormy, with constant snow. We kept 



