Year: 1879

u
,f the canyon, and were unable to get
iown to either stream with horses. We
eft two men to guard the train and the
other five started out on foot. We
were gone three days aud two nights.
No blankets and very little grub. We
found the head Of tho canyon 1900
feet higher than the mouth. Distance
estimated at IA miles. There must be
some bad falls in the canyon, as there
is not fish 10 the stream above it.
Nine miles further brought us to lake,
rise 600 feet, and beyond it we're some
meadows which we at first took to be
summit fiat. We soon found we were
mistaken, however, as the stream sud-
denly ran into the steep ridges near the
summit Fange, and began to come down
in succession of falls. We followed
it until We reached small fat sur.
rounded by perpendicular cliffs. TIL,
elevation here was. 5000 feet above
tide, and the stream had risen | 500
feet in the last miles. On this fiat it
was not over three feet in width, and
the small brooks which formed it came
down from the snow above il every di.
rection. We estimated the lowest part
of the cliff to be 600 feet high, which
would make the summit $500 feet
above tide. We did not climb this
cliff, as it was inaccessible even at the
bottom for a railroad and too high to
compete with the 1000 feet pass of the
Pen d'Oreile, even if it had been. We
came back to camp and resolved to
Start northward along The main range.
keeping as elise to it as possible and
endeavoring to Gnd somc low water
course running from it which it would
pay us 10 follow up. From where we
we're VIC could see up 20 the Elk City
trail and there was no show 10 that di
rection. There was 20 doubt about oul
following the main middle fork. From
Elk prairie TO the summit it was one
large stream, with small creeks running
into it. As regards the north fork al
Elk prairie we came around the head
Of it on our homeward trip. The very
first day we left camp we struck ,
stream running due north, which after
ward proved to be Moberly's Boulder
fork of the Lolo, and followed it to it
intersection with the fork which crosses
the Lo 10 trail. 1t was singular
stream running close to the base of The
main range and parallel with it fol
nearly 40 miles. But one stream came
| into it from the cast, small creek
whose mouth was 4 800 feet above tide
and which ran southeast back into tht
same granite range we had explored al
the head Of the middle fork. 1t wa.
not considered worthy Of exploration


and on the 18th we came to the fork


of the Lo Lo, elevation 4,450 fee


above tide. Both branches aud tn,
main stream arc in terrible canyol
here, and we could not get to.the wate


in any direction with our horses. Tbef,
was no feed and the train was on il


last legs. Half a doy was spent in ex


ploring for road to reach the Lo II
trail which was in plain sight, not owe


Is miles distant But 60 way could b.
found. | considered the survey at al
end here, as the north branch of tn,
Lo 10 had been expired by Moberly
and we would have saved days if ",
could have got on the Lo Lo trail, bu


we could not make it. We started


home on the 14th and reached Mt


Idaho in the evening Of the 18th. w


did no; return the same way We went


but came as straight as possible to tn
fork near Long Bills, not striking an


of our old camps until the 2lst. W
! had very rough trip.


From all we could see and learn | d
not believe there is any pass practice
BILE for railroad anywhere between til
, Lo Lo aud Elk City trails, aud no plac
at all On the main range lower than tn
crossing OF the Lo Lo trail, which wa
given to me as 1000 feet. The middl
, fork is certainly on. Of the question
The description gwen of the highes