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Show 238 BED GATE- PRAIRIE- ELK MOUNTAINS. Our course lay down the valley of Bridger's Fork for three and a- half miles, when it opens suddenly between two high clifis of red and green indurated clay, and strata of coarse- grit brown sandstone, upon a vast rolling prairie, extending from the Platte to Sfaake River. To this opening we^ gave the name of " $ ed Gate." The general direction of the low range bounding the western side of this prairie is about north- east and south- west. Upon entering th? plain, a magnificent view opened before ns. On our right, to the south and the east, extended the Elk Mountains, with their blue peaks, in which the Elk River takes its rise; to the left of these rose a. high square butt © , marking where the three branches of St. Vrain's Fork enter the Snake River. On our left stretched far off to the northward the ascending ridge of prairie forming the " divide" between us and the waters of the Sweetwater and the North Fork of the Platte, while before us, and at right angles with our codrse, jan four rolling prairie ridges, the farthest of which, about forty miles distant, - formed the western boundary of the Park Mountains. Bridger's Fork, the little stream whose valley we had followed to the Gate, pursued a wandering course to the southeast thrpugh the prairie, its existence marked only by an occasional clump of willows. A few buffalo bulls were quietly grazing upon the plain,, and now and then a small herd of antelope, bounding away over the hills, gave life and spirit to the picture, The soil from' this point to Muddy Creek is for the most part of an excellent quality, but, from want of moisture, 4an never be appropriated to any other purpose than gracing. The grass, though thin, is very nutritious. Small sage » salt grass, grease-wood, a purple aster, together with bunch- grass, and, in the more sandy portions, small cacti, were the principal plants.^ The tops of the ridges wefo strewn with a flat, black gravel, with pebblfes of yellow and white quarts. An occasional drain was crossed, which gave indications of having contained water quite recently; but all of these were now dry. As long as the water lasted, the whole plfcin must have been covered with buffaloe- and antelope, aa ' the profusion of " sign" abundantly proved; but as this indispensable article was absorbed by the sandy poil, they sefemed, from the direction of their trails, to have struck a course for the Vermilion, Many large bear- tracks were also seen, making in the same direction. After travelling six miles across this undulating prairie, we reached the right bank of the valley of Muddy Greek, twenty- five |
