Ho dry fountain Trip 
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shadows and highly colored, velvety grass (or vegetation). The 
fleeting fleecy clouds tipping the peaks and hanging like airy 
animated creatures over the lowlands - altogether a scene unpar¬ 
allelled, sublime as an ocean and to the eye as limitless. To 
the north and. east were Bikes . Peak 100 miles away, and the Green- 
horn Mts. and Wet Mt. valley and Huerfano park. The plains and 
the Bauldy group and the Sanghu de Christo and Aveta passes, the 
Culabra, Castilla and groups of mountains to the south Rite Lit. 
Sandenlonia Lit., the summit district and the valley of the Rio 
Grande, with a line of light to the south and west. The descent 
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was apparently more wearisome than the ascent. We reached camp 
at dark as weary ax a set of mortals as could have been met in 
many miles. 
Aug, 29th : Marched to the 7iio Grande. The Sierra Blanca 
is all schistose near camp and extending for a mile southwest is 
a dyke quite narrow, a row of small hills to the left and we 
passed from camp out to the borders of the plains is trachytic(?) 
Trees,pinons,yet.pines sparse, aspens, cottonwoods, willow, wild 
cherry, sage, greasewood and other shrubs. The streams, i.e. 
the small ones, soon Sink in the plain. Passed a few adobe 
houses and fenced meadows, then all is level and' barren. March 
near 50 miles. Struck road within ten miles of river. Camped 
at ranch near river. 
Aug. 50th : Marched up river to Del ITorte. Lunched at 
the Modoc Ranch. Mr. Venable informs us that there has been 
more than ordinary amount of travel - mostly to the San Juan 
mines. Season has been dry. Hay is ;15 per ton. Del Horte 
looking up. Times are much better than last year. Camped by 
is 
