worse & more trying than the ascent. The brook where first struck on the W. side, at the base of the steep ridge being nearly 300' lower than that last seen on the E. side. Again involved in windfall & an exceedingly narrow & treacherous path along an almost precipitous side hill rendering progress provokingly slow & toilsome. Got down to the forks of the stream at 1.30, & found the place marked by the widening of the valley into a little meadow studded with young Banksean pines. Found the old boundary trail branching off, & followed it several hundred yards. It appeared to have been recently used and was well beaten, rested the horses half an hour or so & ate what lunch we had brought. Could not stay longer for fear of being benighted. Worked way back again over the old obstacles & arrived at camp No. 1 at 7.15 just before dark. Having been nearly 12 hours in the saddle or walking & leading the horse, & accomplished a distance of about 30 miles by the worst-possible kind of trail. Saw hardly a living creature all day the woods & hills being remarkably silent & lifeless. Chickadees in the woods & a rather garrulous & harsh voiced species of jay? [Dawson's ?] haunting the tops of the pines. Also a few small black grouse. Found that Capt A. had failed in his exploration not having been able to find a practicable track. Windfall & forest fills the lower parts of the valleys & the only way to get along is to keep above the timber. The side hills are then exceedingly steep & generally impassible for pack animals. Decided