The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-05
The Labor and Sport Of Mountain
Exploration.
AGRICULTURAL AND MINERAL PECULllRIIlES
The PHYSICAL Pains Of Travel and De-
lights of Camp.
CAMP UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
EoRr HALL Idnho IulY - 1877

our the Primary rrans ulation) division OF the
vcy But think dated It IRON camp Is. We had
then finished making the typographical stations de-
sired upon the peaks the range OF sandstone and
limestone mountains west OF Green River choosing
the highest at the northern ond where Hossac's
Creek cuts through between those mountains the
Gros Ventre Hills, aud the southern end
some miles away in an air line. Both OF these peaks
arc tho highest points left oil the front OF three parallel
ridges OF riassic red sandstone and blue limestone
strata which tipped steep angle, dipping to
the West They stand two three hundred
feet above timber line, presenting long slopes tho
westward aud steep cliffs TO the cast 1t Is hard
say much about them without going into geological
details that would be dry and uninteligiblo But they
arc very respectable ranges OF hills Astounding lne
building rock noble scenery useful forests, lakes and
rivers and vast amount of game
Twice campcd high upon thor sides while max
Ing stations IL and IL, and had hard march from
one TO the other, with difficult climbing at each. II Is
almost impossible to get the base OF tho snow,
which limits your approach ON horseback, before tho
has soticncd tho you sink every
step We think 1t hard work to wade through a few
inches Of slush for quarter third OF mile the
pavement but tip that pavement up to an angle MS
steep as the snow will lie and the increase labor
great
Tho tops OF these hills are covered with fragments
VI the ellis huge separated and just ready
to topplc In this OF melting II is therefore,
unsafe 10 20 TO the BRINK OF sharp biun lest Your
weight might send tho whole crumblng edge head
long But found slopes, and hnd good fun roll
Ins stones just rs they got well started they had 10
bound oil clG and then scoot" over thousand feet
OF steep snow, and beyond this would across
frozen like and broad valley No resist tho
fascination OF setting rocks rolling from he top OF
Van toner ndnua Of
force. feel ike giant MS your hard headed missile
crushcs It's way among and lesser rocks,
opening LINES through the bushes, swapping OF trees
like pipcstems (if the powders be large and tough
and bounding I'LL they lost 10 view. You have
made catapull of yourself, and you enjoy It.
COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN
Coming down mountain two or three thousand
feet Is quick work, but 1t makes ache and
II the slope consists OF LARGE angular fragments OF
rock, many OF these SUBMITS do there Is about
mucn hard work IN II as in the climbing. But If tho
slope loose soil you may step twenty feet at time,
and thus leap down swiftly, taking caution trip
ana fall on your When the snow banks are hard
you have simply TO make oil that portion OF your
anatomy which bcnencent Providence designed you
should employ this purpose, and slide to the bot
tom like u shot
| Leaving station IL without much regret, for !.
was cherries and the flies had given quarter, We
shaped our southwark designing 90 through
pass and westward 10 Fort Hall, Idaho, base OF
supplies. This was change in the original plan,
| wnch contempat going northward through Union
Pass the Yellowstone Park and thence southwark to
tho rotons and Fort Hail. arriving there month later
than the present date. The amount or snow
in the mountains the atcness of the and the
height OF all the saw, argued that The Snake
River would lie uncrossaulc, conclusion we hud
TO be well founded II therefore decided to push
| Tor Fort Hall ut once.
There was great pleasure in riding down those ong
valleys across the foothills and through the park
| like country The woods showed excellence OF
growth far aheat OF anything mad seen before. In
the high ians there WAS nothing out small sized
| white pine and slender quakng asps, gnarlcd and
weather twisted On tho hills crossed the days before
tho spruces and pines. though standing thcky, were
large while making good housc logs would be
useless up or trim Tor spars Here lbc valleys
wcro full mighty yellow and white and pitch pines,
rugged spruccs and four ieet through and giants
OF red nrs, strllight arrows with shapcy spires
| more than a hundred nigh The popars cot
| ton woods grew TO their utmost, and between them
were dwarf naples and sumacns, Wild plums and many
other shrubs new to rhc crop OF grass was dense
and heavy everywhere. proving true tho old qua
traiu:-
| A foot deep of rain
| But three ieet of snow
| viii make them mo-.
| After they arc weary OF tho majesty Of mountain
walls here Will wander the painters making studies
| I coumen d them OF those lakec;s In a
wall tangled rock or spreading gently over
the green heritage the melting snow trckcs INTO them
aud swcils their food; lakes which, IN the sunlight,
reflect their margins Ike mirrors, aud IN the shadow
us you look upon them, take that Opaque dead,
saIgreeu hue, precisely Ike the pools OF heavy OIL
| have soon in tho muddy ravnes ol West Virginia
Ride along under tho brow Of some moss-grown Gill;
ana YOU sure 10 ind hidden IL bunch OF greenery
spring sechnl quietly with gentle Kissing OF small
bubbles Camp there, aud call ii champagne, Its bead
| Is perpetual
All day We had caught gimpscs OF the Green River
plains like misty gray sea, and IN tho afternoon got
out upon them and rested III night on creek bottom
where Indians seemed TO have campei for genera
lions. 1t was pretty place, but dsngurcd BY dirty
debris and the remains old wick-y-ups. the In
dams call the bough lodges they build wncn hunt
ing trips. An2wiDain. u prominent man among the
! Sho,nouces was campcd with his family Two miles
distant, and came TO Us, happening H. with The
greatest appearance OF accident. just as dinner WAS
called. He was trapping beaver, or rather trying to,
Tor no could show none Oh tue SIX MS OF TINS animal
among his collection OF pctrics. We saw good deal
OF these lndians during these DAYS; but purpose
writing special account OF them alter making some
inquiries at Their agency will pass them by now.
There was heavy shower that night, but the noxt
the TOP OF u ncghDorins bluf to see the grave, or
rather tho corpse, of Guild, suppOsct 10 bo Angul-
MANS, that our cook had discovered the evening
before. He described II as being wrapped up in bark
and skins aud cloth, and lashci 70 frame OF oslers
shaped ike snowshoo. Ths was lying upon a
sheltered ledge. la the morning iound the oscr
rack, but body. 1t had been taken away and
sccretcd The Indians are very Jealous OF stranger
| over knowing Tho place whore lhcIr lead lie.
| 4 NARROW ESCAPE.
| Meanwhile the tram had packed up and could see
them like string of black dots far away on the prairie
Trying to make short cut across the beaver damned
| crock | stcercd my mule iuto likely looking
shallow and Was hall way across when sac
| suddenly went clear under and bad 10 SWIM Tor H. |
stayed with cr and we got 10 the opposite bnhk, Out
It too stocp to CLIMB oui, ana Mouse bad to turn
round aud swim back against tao swirl current oeih!
wcnish exhausted when she got TO tbc oanS ana ~,
looking hike drowned rat She recovered her bfeAtn
anu my saddle bags, and then We went down 10 tho
lord. as We ought to have done al nrs' 49, ma.