Valley in our first Mountain trip* Prom the Mane os Westward 
the cret. shales lie up against the divide slope. Hear the 
Mancos and for 5 or 6 miles West Ho. 2 extends North of the 
trail. There are a number of small buttes. Just left of the 
trail Ho. 1 forms the capping of the table-like divide. The 
whole series rises gradually toward Lone Gone and the San 
Miguel Mts. dip 2° (?). Having ridden about 15 miles; first, 
to the West and then North until about ten miles from the 
base of Mesa Verde* We found ourselves suddenly upon the 
brink of the Canon of the Dolores. The trail approaches it 
a little East of the great southern bend. The Canon is about 
700 feet deep, escarped by No. 1. Jurrasie .in the slopes and 
bottom. The valley and river were a delight to the eye when 
we approached it. The bottom is about half a mile wide, level 
and parked. One gets occasional glimpses of the bright stream 
through the cottonwoods and willows. A family of Utes y)ere 
camped by the river at the crossing, but they kept out of sight 
They have come over to hunt and fish and gather berries. They 
must be short of food as they have been a number of 
pine trees of their back, the inner pulpy part is used for food 
Berries are very scarce. 
August 24th.- 
Marched up the Dolores. There was nothing new. Camped 10 
