The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-08-21
The Daily Leader.
ss-ofncial paper of the City, County, Ter
ritory and United States.
The Snow-Clad Hills Of Wyoming-Prof.
Hayden's Latest Explorations.

Times, writing from Evanston, Wyo.,
Aug. 10th, says:
| Late advices from A. D. Wilson, in
charge of the triangulation division of
Prof. Hayden's geological survey, dated
at Fort Hall, Idaho Territory, state
that the party has had eminent success
in all of its undertakings, and that all
the prominent peaks of the Wind River
range of the Rocky mountains, north
of the 10th parallel, have been carefully
located:
From Camp Stambaugh the party
took route along the southern base of
the Wind River mountains to the head
of the Sweetwater. The entire route
was found to be well timbered, and the
rolling hills, which form much of the
way, were found to be luxuriantly COW
cred with grass. The party arrived at
point near the head of Sweetwater
on the 23d of June, and encamped at
the edge of an extensive forest some six
or eight miles from the foot of the most
abrupt portion of the range, from where
arrangements were made for side trip
with a small detachment of the party,
but on the following morning, the oath
of June, the snow began to fall heavily,
and the attempt to make side explora-
tion was abandoned. The next morn
ing was more encouraging, the sky
being clear. The party started quite
early in the morning, and after two
hours hard riding reached a point from
where it was impossible to proceed with
mules. The animals were picketed,
instruments unpacked and divided
among the members of the small party,
and at Z a. m. they started on foot over
an immense snow-feld for the summit
of Fremont's Peak, which is the high
est in the southern end, if not the
highest in the range. After some four
hours and half of the most arduous
labor, travelling over a snow-field of in
calculable depth and lakes frozen solidly
to the bottom, the party reached the
summit just in time to meet heavy
cloud, accompanied by fall of snow
and a violent gale of wind, with the
thermometer far below freezing point.
The boots of the party became frozen
to their feet, and Mr.. Wilson, in charge
one of his hands frozen, so cold was the
weather, he having to carry one of the
instruments, the metal of which added
much to the intensity of the cold. 1t
was not long ere the party became con-
vinced of the uselessness of even at
tempting to work, as the clouds con-
tinued to spread, and the storm became
more threatening, until the points to
belocated from the summit of Fremont's
Peak were almost wholly obscured.
Under these adverse circumstances the
party were obliged to return and await
better opportunity, and to return over
route already trodden with much
labor and suffering is one of the most
trying necessities of an explorers eX-
perience, realizing that all this labor
must be again performed in order to
succeed. At the base of the peak the
party remained all night only to find
the next day so unsettled as to forbid
another attempt. On the following
day, June 9th, another and successful
attempt was made. The party moved
their bedding as far up the noun
tain as it was possible to reach with a
pack mule the previous evening, and
from this point started on foot
at O'Clock a. M, and reached
the summit at 8 O'Clock.
The weather proved clear, but immense
ly cold, with heavy wind. This time
Mr.. Wilson succeeded in obtaining the
necessary observations, and when con-
cluded the party began the descent.
The journey down was comparatively
easy, except on the level portions of the
country where great beds of snow re-
mained, and on which the direct rays
of the sun fell, thus softening it to such
degree that the members of the party
frequently went through to their waists,
making the trip back quite wearisome.
Mr.. Wilson remarks that the quantity
of snow in this range of mountains is
nj ;noro1ih1o Not Oplu ara tho
sides of the mountains covered, but all
the high amphitheatres are filled, often
to depth of fifteen feet; and these
basins spread over many square miles,
and in many of these amphitheatresw were
found lakes of considerable extent,
solidly frozen over, as one would only
expect to find them in the dead of
winter. From this point the party
marched northwest along the foot of
the range through a most interesting
country, well watered and abundantly
supplied with grass. The streams flow
ing through this region are tributary to
the Green river. The party then
camped near the margin of beautiful
lake, at the foot of the outlying hills, at
the head of New fork of Green river,
where the main camp remained. From
here another side journey was made to
Fremont's peak, which was reached
after the usual difficulties, the snow
being quite deep far down belowtimber
line. This point, or one near it, is prob
ably the one Gen. Fremont assembled
some thirty-five years since; but as the
summit was covered by heavy drift of
snow, the party could find no traces of
his visit. The day was not favorable
one, yet a satisfactory series of observa-
tions was secured. Along the branches
of the New fork were found some four
or five very beautiful lakes, ranging
from two to four miles in length,
surrounded by gentle rolling hills, and
skirted by groves of pine and quaking
aspen. The water was clear, and large
trout could be plainly seen in schools
swimming far out in the lakes.
These lakes have been formed by
glaciers, terminal morains having
formed great dams behind which the
water has accumulated. Mr.. Wilson
states that some of the finest examples
he has ever seen of lateral moraines are
- e.. |, To-, ,lna fIaxr rod n,h