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Show 14 RECONNAISSANCE IN THE UTE COUNTRY. of the Kio Grande, Mr. Hine and I ascended the great mountain bluff on the foot- hills of which Camp 18 was situated, at a distance of about three- quarters of a mile W. N. W. from the river and three hundred feet above it. Bristol Head.- This mountain, to which the name of " Bristol Head" * was given, has a triangular base, one axis of which lies in a nearly due north and south line. The southeast face of the mountain is of the same general appearance just ascribed to the mountains north of the river, and the southwest face is a nearly perpendicular precipice, in one place exceeding two thousand feet in perpendicular height. The summit was distant about six miles from camp, ( measured on our trail,) and the ascent somewhat difficult, but the magnificent prospect well repaid ua for our exertions. From the northeast, around to the southwest, stretched the Uncompahgre Range, a series of great peaks; the whole range at this season covered with unbroken snow down at least fifteen hundred feet from their summits. The Sierra La Plata was visible, extending along the south side of the Rio Grande from its " Box" Caiion to Wagon- Wheel Gap, the nearer peaks, about 3,000 feet above the valleys, timbered to their summits, and with earth- slopes and rounded lines. Farther south, the u back- bone" of the range, a mass of snow- peaks; below, the Rio Grande could be seen for over 40 miles of its course. On the face by which we ascended was a bank of snow, climbed by cutting steps in its face, and the summit was covered with snow, through which we broke mid- thigh deep, encountering a pelting snow- storm as we descended. Spruce- pines and aspens were found to within 1,500 feet of the summit, the pines tall and straight above, a few stunted pilion in sheltered places. From Camp 18 \< i Camp 19 the trail lies around the base of " Bristol Head n to its southern apex. Camp 18 to 19.- About two miles south of Camp 18 the foot- hills recede from the river, leaving a grassy bottom on the west bank, having an average width of about 1,000 feet, and extending for a distance of about two miles in a south- southwest direction, in which we found a cattle- ranch. At the southwest end of this bottom, and on the south side of the river, a stream comes in from the southeast, through a narrow, three- sided valley, to which the name of Rainy* Canon was given, because, on all occasions, when seen, rain was seen falling up the caiion. Nearly opposite the mouth of Rainy Canon is the dry caiion, through which . the trail to the Lake Fork of the Gunnison passes in a northwest direction close to the western foot of Bristol Head. At this point commences a series of smooth rolling, grassy ranges, lying between the caiion at the southwest face of Bristol Head and the Rio Grande. These ranges become gradually less steep, until> after passing the divide between Clear Creek and Crooked Creek, they break down into the smooth bottom known as Antelope Park, a beautiful piece of fertile land about two and a half miles in length from the junction of Clear Creek and the Rio Grande northwestwardly, and about a mile and a half wide. The valley of Clear Creek is about twelve miles in length, having gently sloping sides, thickly covered with bunch- grass. It has an average width of about a mile and a half of land sufficiently level for cultivation. A well- worn Indian trail is found nearly the whole length of the valley. Camp id to 20.- From Antelope Park up the Rio Grande the trail is on the north side of the river, at a height of from fifty to two hundred feet above it, on a very steep, grassed slope. Near the river this slope ends in a cliff. Above the trail on the north is another cliff, of. one to |
