EXPLORATIONS IN COLORADO WITH THE HAYDEN SURVEY OF THE 
TERRITORIES. TRIP TO THE SIERRA ABAJO MOUNTAIN, COLORADO. 
EXTRACT FROM MR. WILSON'S REPORT, 1876. 
(f*£ e 1 
"Our next point being the Abajo Peak, which was some 
eighty miles to the west, consequently out of our direct line 
of march, I determined to divide my little party, sending the 
main train on to await me under Lone Cone, while Mr. Holmes 
and myself took a small outfit and started across the mesa 
country for the Abajo Mountains, making a few topographical 
stations on the way to fill in a small area which had been left 
the previous year owing to the hostilities of the Ute Indians. 
"The second day's march brought us to the foot of the 
mountains, but at the same time a storm which had been accumu¬ 
lating for some time broke upon us, and as we were not prepared 
for such an event, were compelled to hover around a sage-brush 
fire for three days, while the snow and rain came down alternately 
until the mountains were covered to a depth of a foot and a half 
with snow while the plains were converted into vast mud-holes. 
Finally, on the morning of the 19th, the storm broke, and we 
were soon on our way up the mountain. Breaking our way through 
the fresh snow we succeeded in reaching the summit, where we 
found the snow nearly two feet deep. Completing our observa¬ 
tions and sketches as soon as possible, nearly freezing in the 
mean time, we soon descended to our camp, glad to be ready once 
more to resume our march, for this delay had nearly entirely 
exhausted our supply of provisions; in fact, we had but one 
day's supply left and were about 100 miles from our main camp. 
"Late at night on the second day we reached the foot of 
Lone Cone, but not finding our main camp, were compelled to camp, 
notwithstanding the fact, which weighed heavily on our minds, 
that we had eaten our last morsel of provisions at five o'clock 
the previous morning. 
"Arousing ourselves at break of day the following morn¬ 
ing and finding the weather looking unsettled, I determined to 
ascend the peak before spending any more time in search of camp, 
fearing that a storm might again delay us . After some three 
hours of hard climbing we reached the summit, and I succeeded in 
getting a good set of observations. After completing my work 
I scanned the horizon with my field-glasses for our main camp, 
which I finally discovered about seven miles eastward. Returning 
to where X had" left the animals we hoop packed up, and wending J 
our way through down timber, bog-holes, and snow, we arrived at 
our camp about 4 p.m., pretty well worn and ready for a "square" 
meal, which we had not enjoyed for two days.” (pp.278,279) 
