240 
Prof. Hayden's Explorations. 
[April, 
Uncompahgre Peak, above 
sea level 
Feet, 
• • I4» 2 35 
Blanca Peak, 
)> 
. . 14,464 
Mount Harvard, 
)> 
}} 
. . 14,384 
Gray’s Peak, 
?? 
. . 14,341 
Mount Lincoln, 
a 
)> 
. . 14,296 
Mount Wilson, 
i > 
. . 14,280 
Long’s Peak, 
Pike’s Peak 
y > 
. . 14,271 
. . 14,146 
The foregoing table will afford some conception of the 
difficulty encountered in determining the highest peak where 
there are so many that are nearly of the same elevation. 
About fifty peaks are found within the limits of Colorado 
that exceed 14,000 feet above the sea level. 
From this point the party proceeded westward across the 
San Luis Valley, and up the Rio Grand to its source, making 
two primary stations on the way, one near the summit dis- 
trict and the other on the Rio Grande pyramid. From the 
head of the Rio Grande the party crossed the continental 
divide, striking the Animas Park, and thence proceeded by 
trail to Parrott City. 
After making a station on La Plata Peak the party 
marched north-west across the broken mesa country west of 
the Dolores, making three stations on the route to complete 
a small piece of topography that had been omitted the pre- 
vious year, on account of the hostility of the Ute Indians. 
After making a primary station on the highest point of the 
Abajo mountains, the party turned eastward to Lone Cone, 
where another station was made. Thence crossing the 
Gunnison and Grand Rivers, the} 7 proceeded to the great 
volcanic plateau at the head of White River. The final 
station was made between the White and Yampah Rivers, 
in the north-western corner of Colorado. During this brief 
season Mr. Wilson finished about 1000 square miles of 
topography, and made eleven primary geodetic stations, thus 
connecting together by a system of primary triangles the 
whole of Southern and Western Colorado. 
In company with the triangulation party, Mr. Holmes 
made a hurried trip through Colorado, touching, also, por- 
tions of New Mexico and Utah. He was unable to pay 
much attention to detailed work, but had an excellent oppor- 
tunity of taking a general view of the two great plain-belts 
that lie the one along the east, the other along the west base 
of the Rocky Mountains. For nearly 2000 miles’ travel he 
had constantly in view the cretaceous and tertiary forma- 
tions among which are involved some of the most interesting 
