The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-03-20
YELLOWSTONE FIELD NOTES.
BY ]. ". BoGERT.

stone, are deep ravines which serve as
important water channels from the hills
to the north. The valley between the
two is broad and fertile with dense cot
tonwood near the river.
"The steep sandstone bluffs to the
north become gradually Of easier as
cent, while upon the opposite side the
broken hills, covered with scrub pine,
begin to recede from the river. Tray
cling seven miles the road turns to the
left and ascends the bluffs, upon the
top Of which stretches an extensive pla-
teau." Due east is prominent pointed
butte, to which gave the name "Coy-
ote Butte" 1t stands upon the east
side of the Great Porcupine near the
point of its entrance into the Yellow
stone valley. From this plateau the
course of the river viewed from great
distance is seen to be little north Of
east. The soil of the plateau is gravel
with poor grass.
FROZEN TO DEATH CREEK,
(so named from the death from cold
near it of two Crows). is II miles from
Fort Pease. 1t has little water, mar
row bottom with some timber. Bad
lands extend upon each side producing
large crop of, mostly muscle, fos-
sils.
Beyond this creek the valley increas-
es in width to miles-grass poor.
Seven miles farther the march is chang
ed to the hills, dry creek is crossed, its
banks formed Of fossiliferous sandstone
and three miles below a high and ex-
tensive plateau is gained.
'From here" says McClernand, IAN
extensive view is had. In every direc-
tion stretches an elevated country,
broken here and there by sandstone
bluffs and buttes; occasionally by
small bottom, on the Yellowstone, and
at times by the river itself. In the
stream numerous islands, heavily wood
ed, now begin to appear"
THE GREAT PoRCuPINE
is crossed 21.97 miles from Fort Pease.
At this point the valley is broad and
fertile, growing dense timber along the
river.
The Little Porcupine is next reached.
The Y Yellowstone valley is here two miles
wide, sklrted on the north by sandstone
bluffs, having fiat tops, (which caused
Lewis and Clarke to call this creek
Table Creek The sandstone forma-
tion everywhere exists in this section
the layers always horizontal"
At the time the command passed, the
Little Porcupine was 80 feet wide and
1S inches deep. Moving down the
larger valley located upon the lower
side of this stream, and which extends
to the Rosebud, it is found to be three
miles wide and susceptible to irrigation,
which would result in fine crops.
Across the Yellowstone, which is
skirted by heavy timber, in a direction
ITO east, stand the6 Big Wolf noun
tains-a bunch of low sandstone peaks.
Still farther to the east can be seen a
line of broken hills lying this side of
Tongue River.
THE STEEP HILL.
"This hill," says McClernand, sis
but 275 yards long, but is so covered
with loose gravel, and is SO steep, that
our train consumed three hours in its
ascent. From its top, rough barren
hills can be seen extending for miles to
the north"
Descending along small creek lig-
mite is found cropping out between lay
ers of sandstone. Five miles farther
and the Yellowstone and its valley are
again reached. Here is found sage
brush bottom and heavy timber, the
cottonwood growth skirting the banks
both up and down. SAT this point the
ground is covered with cactus-the
largest have ever seen. The valley is
here 13 to IA miles in length by 4 in
width, and if irrigated, as it could be
from the river, would produce fine
grass"
Dry Creek, "a miles below, is next
crossed. A short distance beyond it
the road ascends the bluffs to splen-
did plateau. Here, and 80 far excep-
tionally with plateau grass, the growth
is very fine, the soil black, rich and
stoneless, and the elevation stretching
for miles to the north is at last termi-
mated by rough divide.
TONGUE RIVER,
entering the Yellowatone from the op-
posite side, flows through large, fer
tile and heavily timbered valley. "Our
elevated position" says McClernand,
enaDleS US 10 lOOh up Iuc llNel doouG
twelve miles, when it turns to the south
west, after which it is hidden by hills
looking rough and barren. To the east
the very broken divide on this side of
Powder River is plainly in view,''
SUNDAY CREEK,
next crossed, has well grassed and
partially timbered bottom of to mile
wide. Passing down this creek a miles
a low pass is crossed, when a fine valley
of the Yellowstone is entered. This Is
a fine hay country, the grass growth
being luxuriant.
BUFFALO RAPIDS,
Just below. ''are caused by a ledge of
sandstone (which runs across the river
at an angle with lis channel of about
6so) and by loose boulders below said
ledge.'' At present May Sth) there is
sufficient water upon these rapids to
permit the passage Of any boat Of the
Upper Missouri.
A march of hours brings us to camp
upon the Yellowstone. Near us is
one of those deep ravines so common in
the valleys between here and Fort
~ IL,