210 Th< AliK rial It (rt-ohx/isf. 
Oct()l)er, 1891 
(K'lur. 1ml in <i;eiu'i"al aiv iiu'iv cracks. None arc t'ouiul which arc 
not readil}'^ to be stepped over. Everything points to rapid de- 
cadence. Points of interest increase as the various valleys 
tributary to this part of the glacier are examined. 
The Dirt Ghceiar. — The first valley opening into this part of the 
glacial amphitheatre as its edge is followed is occupied by a small 
glacier, to which the name Dirt glacier was applied, because the 
ice in the whole lower half of the vallc}' is completely and heavil}'^ 
covered with debris from the rapidly disintegrating mountains at 
its sides. The upper half of the valley discloses an extremely 
pretty, small, white glacier with heavy lateral moraines svhich 
gradually increase in width with the result mentioned above. 
This glacier at the present time has not sufficient vitality' to send 
its ice beyond its own valley. Its lower portion is without per- 
ceptible motion, and has melted away considerably from the 
mountain sides. 
The White glacier. — The next valley is occupied l)y a very 
beautiful little glacier of a dazzling white appearance, with two 
medial moraines which present a very striking appearance from a 
distance on account of their graceful curves. This glacier still 
possesses considerable vitalit}', sending its ice clear to the Dirt 
glacier valley. In entering the main basin its ice makes a sharp 
turn of 90°, causing a depression of its surface at the concave 
side of the bend with a corresponding slight elevation at the 
convex side. 
The Southeastern, hranch. — For our present purpose the point 
of interest of this next succeeding glacier is its present vitalit}'. 
It really comprises two glaciers, the first of which is somewhat 
the larger of the two. This sends its ice not quite to the White 
glacier valley, dying out against the mountain side just before 
that valley is reached. Ice from the other branch extends but 
little further, pinching out between ice from Main valley and 
tlie White glacier, opposite the entrance to White glacier valley. 
Main valley. — The greater portion of the ice occupying the 
eastern part of Muir glacier amphitheatre has emerged from the 
large valley called Main valle}'. At present many curious features 
are exibited here. No ice is visible in the upper portion of this 
valley or in the valleys tributary to it. The comparatively 
narrow ridge back of Tree mountain which separates 31aiii 
valley from the snow fields of the Southeastern Ijranch is deeply 
