Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-08-10
Party Spent Three Days on MacDoug.
al Mountain and Made Many
interesting Observations.
NO GLACIER WAS DISCOVERED
Prof. silIoway and other Montana
Educators Are Following Exami-
nation Of Birds and Flowers.


logical station at Bigfork that made
the seen of MacDougal mountain
in the Sun range on Friday, July 29,
remaining until Monday, August /,
made many observations, some of
which are worthy of record, as they
are of general interest to the people
OF the state. AS the party made a
stay of several days and were fully
equipped for taking care Of material
they returned with a mass of speci-
mems and exposed plates requiring
several days for their care.
The first ascent of this mountain
by station people was made in July,
1901. at that time there were immense
masses of snow on the range at the
summit as shown by photographs TAX
en- at that time. The eastern face of
MacDougal was almost completely
covered with snow, the huge banks
extending for miles. In 1901 there
was much more snow than there has
been any year since. In 1902 there
was less snow than in 1901, although
the ascent was made a couple of
weeks later. Last year the was
by no means so great as in 1902. In
deed, the snow in 1902 was the least
in amount during the four years OBJ
servations have been made. The
great banks of 1901 had in 1903 been
reduced to a few banks. most of
which were small. In 1904 the snow
was slightly in excess of that of 1902.
For four years the snow around the
summit at 1900 feet elevation has
been observed, the most occurring in
1901, much less in 1902, still greater
deficiency in 1903, and a slight in
crease in 1904 over 1903.
In most of the maps the snow field
on this mountain Is marked glacier"
The observations made during four
years show co~nclusively that this Is
merely a snow field, that it does not
move, except occasionally to break
away and form small crevasse, and
that there is little If any real ice left
late in the summer. For this noun
tain, therefore, the word glacier
should not be used as applying to the
snow field.
The ascent in 1904 was made July
20, in 1903 August 3, d difference of
but a few days, and the ascent in 1902
was made August 3 or 4, so the COM
| m ricnnc ara for almost tho Ca a
dates. The spring season in 1904 was
much later than usual all over the
state. and indeed over the country.
Spring in the mountains fingers late,
a thousand feet in altitude correspond
ing approximately to a week. In 1904
spring was much more advanced than
inn 1903. Many of the flowers so
abundantly blooming in previous
years, had passed bloom and were
maturing seed. The advance in the
vegetation vas very noticeable, and
was mentioned Immediately on arriv.
al. The dog-toothed violets were con.
fined to the lingering now banks, as
were also the shooting stars, wind
flowers, spring beauties and the like.
Although many familiar flowers had
bloomed and gone, still there was an
abundance of beautifui flowers. They
made a carpet over the mountains of
surprising beauty and brilliancy. The
tall hairy heads of the wind flower,
Pulsatilla ~hersutissima nodded in the
gentle breeze. The Indian paint
brush castilleia was luxuriant, giving
color to the landscape, a bright and
deep red abundantly mixed with the
green. The tall hellebore, Veratrum
californicum, with its broad green
leaves and tall stems shoulder high,
was just ready for bloom, while a few
hundred feet below ii was in full
bloom. In the cracks of the rocks
the delicate rea colored columbine,
Aquilegia fiavescens. found a footing,
its beautiful flowers showing con-
spicuously against the dark rock
background. The broad-leaved spring
beauty, claytonia caroliniana, follow.
ed the %retreating snow banks, occa.
s~ionally pushing their delicate stems
through the fast melting o The
white valerian, valerian sylvatica,
was as abundant as the castilleia, its
waist high slender stems waving in
the slightest breeze, bringing woe to
the photographers attempting to pro.
cure a good negative for a lantern
slide. On the extrme summit the
white or cream colored calochortus
c%alochortus gunnisonii, grew luxur
iantly among the clumps Of bear
grass, xerophyllum douglasii. This
gives this species a wide range. as il
is also common on the banks of Flat
head lake almost a mile lower down
The beautiful blue ~erigeron of the
valley below, is abundant on the sum
NIT, conspicuous among the beal
grass and stunted alpine pinen trees
Many composites were in bloom, as
also many smaller and less conspic
uous species almost hidden by the
foliage of other and larger plants
Nearly forty species OF Towering
plants were found near the summit
Specimens of each were preserved
and cared for on the return TO the
station. One noticeable feature o
high or alpine vegetation Is its color
The green is brighter and greener
the color of the corolla APPARENT,
much brighter and conspicuous
than in the same or similar species
lower down. The plants have more
rapid growth, are therefore %succulent
brittle and easily broken. They fol
low the retreating snow banks, tn
mountain slopes fast changing from
a SNOW white to deep green, whicl
is later sprinkled win red, white
yellow or purple, as flowers Of differ
ent species come into bloom.
But two trees are found on the sun
NIT or lear it, the alpine fir, able
~lasiocarpa, and the alpine pine, pinu
albicantis. The alpine fir almost er
tirely monopolizes the slope, wher
moisture is more abundant, while III