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Show 44 RECONNAISSANCE IN THE UTE COUNTRY. base of a spur of Elk Mountains. At the head of the divide, a long grassy ridge, with elevated knobs. From the summit we coald see a stream flowing northwest, and heading one mile to our right, directly opposite the Middle Fork. A well- marked trail coald be seen going down this stream till it entered timber. While making the necessary detour along the summit we found a little snow, and on it were seen three white mountain grouse, very shy. We shot one. It was a perfect beauty; somewhat larger than a domestic dove, small head, short, strong beak, plumage dusk gold and gray, mottled on head, neck, back, and base of wings, elsewhere pure white, tail rather long, feathers to toes, eyes pink, runs very swiftly, meat very dark but of exquisite flavor. From this summit we could see that we were at the base of Elk Mountain, and that this ridge is the connection between Elk and main range. To the left it splits, one spur sweeping down parallel with Taylor till cut by the canon thereof, and joining main range near the head of Quartz Greek, the other spur continuing along toward the head of Slate, as main Elk divide. This portion is extremely rugged. Many of the highest peaks seem stratified, cut down into forms of incredible wildness and boldness. We descended on to the stream mentioned, and quickly entered dense spruce timber, well grown. The descent is rapid. Trail bears unmistakable marks of having been. used by men, but not recently. Found considerable fallen timber in places. Stream runs in I a steep, narrow gorge, with no bottom- land, and dense timber to waters edge. We traveled as fast as possible, making about 24 miles, and established Camp 1 at 7 p. m., then dark, in a small opening, where the timber had been swept away by a snow- slide. About two miles below Camp 1 is the junction in a small valley of our stream and one coming down farther west, which we call Big Fork. Our Brook is about five feet wide, clear and swift, with bowlder bed. I Big Fork is ten to fifteen feet wide, a clear, swift, fine volume of water, bowlder bed. The rock exposed so far is syenite, quartzite, and coarse feldspathic granite. Sandstone bowlders are now found in the streams. Up to this point the trail has been bad in the narrow, steep valley, densely timbered from crest of the mountains, 1,500 feet high, to the water's edge. Passing down the small valley we found it remarkably I pretty. The mountain slopes are covered with bunch- grass in all the glades and gulches. Here and there timber meets at the water, bat there is mostly a belt of one- fourth to one- half mile of grassy slope. Wherever there is any level bottom it is flooded by beaver- dams. Signs of elk and deer abound. Still no signs of recent travel on the trail. All cutting at least three to four years old, and little of it. No sign of fire anywhere within a less time than three years. The hills on the west begin to show strata probably of sandstone, but much cut down, taking irregular and picturesque forms. Opposite Moon Camp the mountainside reveals a wonderfully pretty picture. The aspens grow high up, turned in patches yellow and red, pale here, vivid there, pale green of unfrosted foliage, and deep green of spruces scattered in clumps everywhere. Through this the red, brown, jagged cliffs come out here and l there, and one solitary rude peak stands high and sharp over all. As far as the valley of the junction with Roaring Fork the scenery and general character of the route remain much the same during the descent of Our Creek. We passed one tributary coming in from the southwest, and were compelled to avoid a canon of 300 to 400 feet in depth, through which Our Creek passed. This canon was formed of dark red sandstone. We then, before long, enter a valley where four i forks unite with each other. That coming down west of Ours is about |