Rocky Mountain Trip 28 
filled tilth hard seams which intersect. Parts are fine grained 
and quarts it Ac* Prom the canon up there is a gradual slope up 
most of which is covered with rich vegetation - scrub oak, some 
■ 
of which are large, wild cherry* willows, rose, aspens and scat¬ 
tered about the Immediate base fine large yellow pines. Crossed 
a little used Indian trail half way up the slope and camped near 
a good spring, beneath some cedars. While some ten miles out we 
had encountered a very heavy rain and sleet storm which proved 
to be the first smile of ah almost interminable grin, which this 
uncanny little group of hills unblushingly turned upon us. Before 
dark the rain eoramencGd and dinner was a damp affair*, while the 
beds were soaked. Breakfast was taken in the fog. 
Sept» 16th ; Aba jo. The mules had been picket ted on the 
' 
creek bs^k and came up in the morning looking dreary enough. The 
clouds wore breaking ami we determined to make the ascent. Clouds 
still hung about the mountain top and over the plain, The sun 
Struck tteou^a in places and we felt assured of success. Before 
reaching the summit we were enveloped in clouds and were unable 
to determine which was the summit. We stopped and built a fire 
and X spent an hour writing on my journal, which X had not car- 
riad beyond Parrott city. The two Harry# were sent bade to camp 
with instructions to move close up to the base If it should fail 
to clear before five o’clock. Wilson and 1 followed the ridge ! 
until we reached the summit proper and unpacked and built a fire. ' 
fhort were eo many clouds that but little could be seen. Glimpses 
could be had, however, as we descended a couple of hours later* 
of the plains with their canons and the distant mountains. A 
stratum of loose clouds continued to hang somewhat lower than 
