,the ,nakimu ,caves ,glacier ,dominion ,park1 ,b4 ,c4 ,illustration3 ,on the road to the ,caves--,ross ,peak in centre4 ,,dominion ,,parks ,,branch ,department of the ,interior ,,ottawa #aiad ,,the ,,nakimu ,,caves ,,glacier ,,dominion ,,park1 ,b4,c4 ,near the summit of the ,selkirk range of mountains in ,british ,columbia is one of the most curious series of subterranean caves in the world4 ,being of recent discovery and1 up to the present1 almost inaccessible except to the most agile and daring they remain practically unknown to the world at large1 but to those bold spirits who have dared their black depths they have offered an experience1 weird1 thrilling and wonderful4 ,less than a thousand visitors at present make the journey to the ,caves each year4 ,to the graphic description of ,arthur ,o4 ,wheeler1 president and founder of the ,canadian ,alpine ,club1 together with the report of ,w4 ,s4 ,ayres1 the mining engineer who was commissioned by this department to report on the ,caves1 the substance of this pamphlet is indebted4 ,the ,dominion ,government is at present having work done which will render accessible to the public this unusual and somewhat gruesome curiosity4 ,a good road is already built between the little alplike town of ,glacier to within #f1jjj feet of the ,caves and a trail connects this point with the entrance4 ,the distance is about seven miles by saddle pony from the beautiful ,canadian ,pacific ,railway hotel at ,glacier to the end of the road1 and the whole journey can be finished on foot in five hours4 ,the ride is through scenes almost incomparable1 perhaps even in the ,rocky or ,selkirk mountains4 ,the ,yoho valley1 in which flows the ,cougar ,creek1 in the bed of which are the ,caves1 possesses magnificent vistas of varied mountain scenery4 ,to quote ,wheeler3--8,it is difficult to express the wonder of the colour contrasts that meet the eye in the ever changing panorama of snow-clad peak1 rock precipice dazzling nv1 shining glacier ice and bronze-green forest of pines1 midst which nestle magic lakes of changing shades of blue and green40 ,mr4 ,wheeler remarks that the ,cougar valley1 in the bed of which are the ,caves1 is of special interest for two reasons other than the ,caves3-- #a4 8,it is of that special type known as #8a hanging valley1' or one that has been carved out in a ,u-shaped cross-section by the action of glacial erosion1 and not in the form of a ,v1 as would have occurred through the action of water erosion alone4 ,it is1 moreover1 a very pronounced form of its type4 ,the numerous small glaciers that still line the sides and head of the valley give it exceeding great beauty and interest in summer time40 #b4 8,i know of no other spot in the ,selkirks where alpine flora is more abundant and varied1 and this fact alone is an attraction not to be despised40 ,description of the ,valley of the ,caves1 by ,a4 ,o4 ,wheeler4 8,the valley of ,cougar creek is divided into two parts of distinctly different characteristics4 ,the upper valley1 a great spoon-shaped basin extending from ,lookout point to ,cougar pass1 is a most pronounced form of the type known as #8hanging valley1' or one that has been carved out in a ,u-shaped cross section by the eroding power of a glacier at one time filling up its bottom4 ,this glacier has now shrunk to very small proportions at the extreme head of the valley4 ,the floor is on a comparatively low grade and1 at one point1 is covered for about half a mile by a small lake-bed in which some water lies during the summer4 ,the entire length of the upper valley may be put at #b miles4 ,it is inclosed by the rocky steeps of ,mount ,bagheera1 ,catamount peak and ,mount ,ursus ,major1 on the north1 and of ,cougar mountain on the south4 ,on the sides of these massives are small glaciers1 busy at work tearing down the entire structures4 ,at the head of the valley1 ,cougar pass leads across the shrunken glacier to a steep ravine descending to the railway at some distance below ,ross ,peak station4 ,illustration3 ,on the road to the ,caves--,showing ,cougar ,valley2 ,mts4 ,ursus ,major and ,bagheera in distance4 ,illustration3 ,douglas ,falls--,near the ,caves4 8,it would be difficult to find a more beautiful example of the alpine valley4 ,in every direction silver water-falls leap down the sides from the glaciers and melting snows of the surrounding peaks4 ,these collect at the bottom of the valley in one central stream which bounds in foaming cascades to the little lake-bed mentioned above4 ,it leaves this1 and1 continually augmented by falls from above1 rushes through luxurious meadow-lands in a second series of cascades that have worn down to bedrock1 showing where a thin veneer of soil is overlaying it4 ,the alpine meadows and park-lands1 as well as the open mountain slopes of the valley1 are throughout the spring and summer decked with a gorgeous array of flowers of varied hues which1 in places1 are so profuse and brilliant that it seems as though nature had spread a carpet of rainbow colours for the delight and wonder of her visitors4 ,in early spring1 the giant ,adder's ,tongue 7,erythronium gigantium7 covers whole acres with a brilliant yellow4 ,these flowers are the first1 and may be seen pushing their heads up through the snow4 ,like all spring flowers in this region1 they follow the melting snows1 and may be found higher up in the valley as late as ,august4 ,almost coincident with them is the ,globe flower 7,trollius laxus71 a plant of much beauty and great wealth of blossom4 ,next come the scarlet and crimson ,painter's ,brush 7,castilleia71 showing everywhere in the open and on the lower slopes with a blaze of glory4 ,later still1 the blue ,larkspur 7,delphinium bicolor7 and purple and pink ,asters replace the earlier series1 the crimson and yellow ,monkey-flower 7,mimulus7 are found in the beds of the streams and where moisture is prevalent2 high up in the valley and on the alp-lands below the rocks are seen the ,false ,heaths 7,bryanthus and ,cassiope7 and1 highest of all1 the pink-flowering moss 7,silene acaulis71 found in magnificently flowered bunches directly below the ice4 ,there are very many other species more rare1 and just as beautiful in blossom1 but of not so frequent or noticeable occurrence4 8,the timber consists1 in this upper valley1 chiefly of spruce and balsam1 trees which1 at this elevation1 in the ,selkirks attain a grace and beauty that is not noticed in the more crowded areas of lower altitudes4 ,here they rise symmetrically to a great height1 and their sweeping lower boughs form shaded canopies that are most inviting during the sultry summer weather4 8,as the head of the valley is approached1 a short climb will convey the explorer to the ice of several small glaciers where he may study with ease their formation and action1 look into miniature crevasses and see how moraines of rock detritus are formed by the downward flow of the ice4 8,at the site of the ,caves1 ,cougar ,creek valley turns from a northeasterly to a southeasterly direction1 and falls sharply #b1jjj feet from ,lookout point to the tank1 as compared with #a1bjj feet for the upper valley in the same distance1 about two miles4 ,the lower valley is ,v-shaped and has1 for the most part1 been carved out by the action of water erosion4 ,the sides except immediately adjacent to the railway are timbered only in patches and are for the most part covered by closely growing alders1 bracken and rank grass which have replaced the timber where the slopes have been swept clear by avalanches from the heights above4 ,through the latter half of this section of the valley the stream flows in a narrow canyon and the fall is steep4 ,as soon as the corner is turned and the slopes of the ,illecillewaet valley reached1 a magnificent forest growth of ,douglas fir 7,pseudotsuga ,douglasii71 hemlock 7,tsuga ,mertensiana71 cedar 7,thuga gigantea71 and a few scattered trees of white pine 7,pinus strobus7 is passed through4 ,illustration3 ,goat ,falls--,near the entrance to the ,caves4 8,from a natural history point of view1 the upper valley is exceptional1 due largely to the absence of visitors in the past4 ,the ,rocky ,mountain goat 7,haplocerus montanus7 may be seen frequently1 and his tracks are everywhere along the heights4 ,during one of our visits a grizzly bear 7,ursus ferox7 was killed by ,deutschman4 ,the black bear 7,ursus americana7 is plentiful at the head of bear creek across ,baloo pass1 and it may be safely assumed that he does not fail to visit ,cougar valley4 ,of the smaller mammals1 the hoary marmot or whistler 7,arctomys ,columbianus7 is plentiful in both the upper and lower valley1 and is here found in large numbers1 larger in size and giving forth a louder and more shrill whistle than in the main range of the ,rockies4 ,its startling note is very human and resembles much the noise that delights the heart of the small boy1 produced by placing the fingers between the lips4 ,say's squirrel 7,spermophilus lateralis7 and ,parry's marmot 7,spermophilus ,parryi7 are also found1 the latter in great numbers4 ,the ,little ,chief hare 7,logomys princeps7 is frequently seen disporting itself among the rocks1 and its comical antics and quaint squeak1 resembling that of a toy rabbit1 are very amusing4 8,the birds are few1 and in the upper valley are chiefly confined to the ,ptarmigan 7,lagopus leucurus71 of which a flock may nearly always be seen1 the water ousel or dipper 7,cinclus ,mexicanus71 a funny little dark grey chap who flits from stone to stone along the cascades and falls of the valley1 continually bobbing and dipping as though it were the object and aim of his existence4 ,this bird has a very sweet note4 ,of other birds the black-headed jay 7,cyanocitta stelleri annectens7 and the ,rocky ,mountain ,whisky ,jack 7,perisoreus ,canadensis capitalis7 are the most apparent4 8,taken as a whole1 this wonderful valley is worthy of a visit quite independently of the attractions offered by the ,caves1 and it would be difficult to find a more representative or better type of valley to illustrate the various phases of nature in the ,selkirks--scenery1 geology1 natural history and botany40 ,it was in the year #aijd that ,charles ,henry ,deutschman of ,revelstoke1 a ,british subject1 while prospecting and hunting big game1 discovered the ,caves in series4 ,the next person to enter the ,caves after ,deutschman was ,a4 ,johnston1 editor of the ,revelstoke ,mail-,herald4 ,next1 in ,may1 #aije1 a party of twelve persons1 including ,w4 ,s4 ,ayres1 the mining engineer1 ,howard ,douglas1 superintendent of ,rocky ,mountains ,park1 and ,r4 ,b4 ,bennett1 the ,associated ,press correspondent at ,vancouver and now member of the ,dominion ,house representing ,calgary1 visited the ,caves4 ,most of this party1 however1 returned to ,glacier on the following day and left ,messrs4 ,ayres1 ,deutschman1 ,johnston1 ,benson and ,field to make further explorations4 ,illustration3 ,on the road to the ,caves--,mt4 ,avalanche1 ,eagle ,peak1 ,mt4 ,sir ,donald4 ,mr4 ,ayres' ,description of this ,exploration4 8,on the morning of ,may #cj1 the entire party entered the cave by the opening which ,i have designated on the map as #8,entrance ,no4 #a4' ,pools of water more or less filled with ice were encountered1 which greatly impeded our progress1 and finally a very deep one1 at a distance of #bcg feet from the surface1 barred further progress until a raft could be prepared4 ,retracing our steps to the surface we sought an entrance in #8,the ,canyon' by means of a rope4 ,this passage was about #gj feet below the natural surface and about #ajj feet above the bottom of #8,the ,canyon1' was very small and blocked with ice4 ,i have designated this opening as #8,entrance ,no4 #b1' on the map4 8,another opening was found which is recorded as #8,entrance ,no4 #c4' ,here1 by crawling through a very narrow passage on hands and knees and then descending a steep narrow water groove for about #ej feet the brink of a very large cavern was reached that was estimated to be #bef feet deep1 but its length and breadth were1 owing to their great extent and to the insufficiency of lights at hand1 inaccessible4 ,it was observable1 however1 that several openings led off from this great cavern4 ,the plunge and roar of a great waterfall somewhere down in the depths of this cavern reverberates in every inch of space1 and produces in the listener sensations so weird that even those that have elsewhere met its counterpart are at first startled4 8,no further attempt was made at this time to explore the cave through this entrance for the reason that the three hundred feet of rope sent by ,mr4 ,ford1 resident engineer of the ,c4,p4,r41 for our use1 had not yet been brought up to the cave from the water tank4 ,on the following day another obstacle presented itself4 ,the rapidly melting snow formed a sudden rush of water which poured down the mountain side and into this opening1 and made it not only inaccessible for the time being1 but proved it to be positively dangerous to enter for any extended explorations until the snow has practically disappeared4 8,on the afternoon of ,may #ca1 and the forenoon of ,june #a1 a raft and additional ladders were constructed to cross over the large pool that impeded our progress on ,may #cj in #8,entrance ,no4 #a4' ,while we were eating our noon meal on the #cast1 ,cougar creek overflowed into this entrance4 ,we made the attempt to descend but were drenched with water1 and our lights were put out4 ,we constructed a dam to prevent this1 as far as possible1 and at #f a4m4 on ,june #b we again descended into the cave by this entrance1 and found at a distance of #cca feet from the surface a large square chamber1 #ej feet wide by #fj feet1 that was accessible4 ,a large portion of its length was inaccessible owing to ,cougar creek1 which flows across it1 and to accumulated ice4 ,we named this chamber #8,the ,auditorium4' 8,at a point in the main entrance just as we emerge from #8,the ,auditorium1' a branch passage was found which again joins the main entrance about #ajj feet from the surface4 ,this branch passage is marked on the map as ,a-,b4 ,another branch passage was found to connect this entrance with the surface and it is designated on the map as ,b-,c4 ,a diligent search in this part of the cave disclosed no other accessible openings4 8,a descent by ropes to the bottom of the canyon at #8,entrance ,no4 #b' was considered but it was deemed entirely unsafe1 owing to the very large accumulated mass of snow which might slide into it at any moment1 and without warning4 ,besides this1 no entry can be made until ,cougar creek has subsided to a mere brook4 8,the falls1 designated on the map as #8,lower ,goat ,falls1' were visited with the hope that an entrance might be effected to the very large cavern by the passage through which the water from the fall enters2 but it was practically filled with water and ice4 ,the falls consist of two vertical drops1 the upper one is about #cj feet and the lower one #ej feet4 ,a large amount of water is delivered into the cave from these falls1 the place of entry being immediately at its foot4 ,it is called #8,entrance ,no4 #d4' 8,no other openings were discovered by which access might be had to the large cavern1 and we are barred from entering it by those openings already described1 and for the reasons given1 until such time as the spring floods may have fully subsided40 ,mr4 ,a4 ,o4 ,wheeler1 ,d4,l4,s41 accompanied by ,deutschman1 was the next explorer1 and the following is ,mr4 ,wheeler's description of their experiences in the new caves which were discovered during this visit3-- ,mr4 ,wheeler's ,exploration and ,description of the ,caves4 8,up to this time1 only the ,gopher ,bridge series and the ,mill ,bridge series 7see map7 had been explored4 ,it was not until a day or two before the close of the survey1 ,august #d1 that an attempt was made to penetrate the huge opening seen at the north end of the bottom of the gorge4 ,on the date named1 the writer descended by means of a knotted rope1 and was followed by ,deutschman4 ,the stream was then at high water1 and pouring into the opening with a tremendous rush and swirl of waters4 ,although the creek was crossed by wading waist deep in the icy torrent1 it was found impossible to penetrate more than a couple of hundred feet into the depth4 ,later in the month ,deutschman1 alone and unaided1 penetrated this opening and worked his way across the stream1 discovering what is now referred to as the ,gorge series1 or the series of passageways reached by the opening from the ,gorge4 ,and here the writer begs to say a word or two concerning this remarkable man4 ,the work of exploration he has done without assistance1 shows a character utterly devoid of fear4 ,the descent into depths of blackest darkness1 lighted only by the dim rays of a tallow dip1 without a rope or other aid except in a case of direst necessity1 requires more than courage2 it requires strength of purpose and power of will far beyond the ordinary degree4 ,for1 added to the thick darkness1 there was always the fierce vibrating roar of subterranean torrents1 a sound most nerve shaking in a position sufficiently uncanny and demoralizing without it4 ,huge cracks had to be crossed1 and precipitous descents made in pitch darkness1 where1 it is safe to say1 a misstep would have instant death1 either suddenly or through disablement4 ,now that ladders are placed and ropes set1 and the sure path pointed out by this intrepid guide1 it is difficult to realize how in the first place the passage could possibly have been made without4 ,illustration3 ,typical ,alpland--,on ,mt4 ,abbott about #a mile south of ,glacier4 8,the first visitor after ,deutschman to the ,gorge series was a ,mr4 ,lang1 of ,golden1 ,b4,c41 who very nearly met with a serious accident when climbing up the rope from the bottom of the gorge to the floor of the valley1 #hj feet above4 ,he had nearly reached the top when his strength gave out1 and he slid back down the rope1 arriving at the bottom in a much bruised condition1 but fortunately with no bones broken40 ,mr4 ,wheeler furnishes a splendid detail description of the various series of caves1 and it is thought well to reproduce this description in extenso3-- ,gopher ,bridge ,series4 8,on leaving the lake-bed above mentioned1 ,cougar creek flows in a series of cascades for a little more than half a mile through open alpine meadowland1 broken here and there by knolls crowned with scrubby spruce4 ,suddenly1 without warning1 it drops into a cavity and1 #dej feet farther down1 quietly issues from its underground way4 ,during this disappearance the stream has only dropped #cj feet4 ,the intervening space between the entry into and exit from the ground has been named #8,gopher ,bridge' by the first party visiting the ,caves1 owing to the large numbers of ,parry's marmot1 which much resembles a gopher1 to be seen in the immediate vicinity1 and the underlying passages are here referred to as the ,gopher ,bridge series4 ,directly opposite the disappearance of the creek1 two striking cascades tumble down the mountain side and uniting1 flow for a short space parallel to ,cougar creek2 then1 vanishing into a hole in the ground1 they join the main stream by a subterranean passage4 ,they are known as #8,gopher ,falls1' and the place where they disappear as the #8,gopher ,hole' 7see map of ,caves74 8,the ,gopher ,bridge series of passageways was at first entered by the opening shown on the map as #8,old ,entrance4' ,it was a very disagreeable operation1 entailing much wriggling and squeezing through narrow cracks over dirty rocks4 ,eventually1 a point of vantage was reached directly over the subterranean torrent4 ,at the time of the first exploration the writer took acetylene bicycle lamps1 whose bull's-eyes enabled the pitch darkness to be pierced to some extent4 ,magnesium wire also was lighted1 and1 by its aid1 for a brief minute1 the interior was bathed in dazzling brightness4 ,standing on a narrow ledge that overhangs a black abyss1 the eye is first drawn by a subterranean waterfall heard roaring immediately on the left4 ,it appears to pour from a dark opening above it4 ,below1 between black walls of rock1 may be seen the foam-flecked torrent hurtling down the incline until lost in sense shadows4 ,overhead1 fantastic spurs and shapes reach out into the blackness and the entire surroundings are so weird and uncanny that it is easy to imagine ,dante seated upon one of these spurs deriving impressions for his inferno4 ,as the brilliant light goes out the thick darkness makes itself felt1 and instinctively you feel to see if ,charon is not standing beside you4 ,this subterranean stream1 with its unearthly surroundings1 is somewhat suggestive of the ,styx1 and incidentally supplied the name #8,avernus' for the cavern of the waterfall4 8,at one time the stream entered by this opening1 but a natural dam has gradually been formed causing it to find a new opening at the spot where it is now shown disappearing on the map4 ,about midway between the entrance of the creek and the old entrance1 ,deutschman has excavated a small natural opening to a size sufficiently large enough to admit an average person with comfort4 ,a small passage joins with the underground way of the creek1 and by following along its edge you eventually come to the point of vantage previously described4 ,en route1 several small chambers are passed1 originally carved out of the rock in the form of potholes by the swirl and swish of the waters1 but since much distorted in shape owing to disintegration of the cleavage planes4 ,the spot is unique and wonderful1 and the sensations it produces eerie in the extreme4 ,it is well worthy of a visit4 ,illustration3 ,on the road #b miles from ,glacier--,ross ,peak in distance4 ,mill ,bridge ,series4 8,on making its exit at the eastern end of ,gopher ,bridge1 ,cougar creek pours down a narrow rock-cut for a distance of #cej feet1 when it again disappears in a whirl of flying spray below the surface of the valley4 ,it reappears1 #cjj feet farther on at the bottom of a deep gorge1 having dropped #he feet while underground4 ,the interval between the exit and entrance has been named ,mill bridge by the party previously mentioned1 on account of the roar of the water as it rushes underground through the choked entrance1 resembling the noise made by a big mill in full operation4 8,the rock-cut above referred to is narrow1 about #h to #aj feet wide1 and of regular appearance4 ,the upper half presents a series of cascades and falls1 and the sides show curious small potholes that are in the process of erosion from the soft limestone4 ,it has been named #8,the ,flume1' owing to its resemblance to a millrace4 ,there are several openings at the point where the creek disappears1 and its last spectacular leap as it vanishes underground is very striking4 #gj feet farther east is a larger opening1 at one time the point where the stream disappeared1 but as the rush of water cut deeper in the rock channel it took advantage of a handy crack and gradually carved out for itself the opening where the full volume now descends4 8,about the centre of the flume1 on the eastern side1 and #cj feet from it1 is the entrance to the ,mill ,bridge series of the caves1 shown on the map as #8,entrance ,no4 #a4' ,this entrance is a mere cleft in the rock strata1 and is only wide enough to admit of the passage of a man's body4 ,the total length of the underground passageway1 at one time accommodating a very considerable volume of water1 is #djj feet4 ,the height varies from a minimum of #aj feet to a maximum of #be feet1 and the width from #c to #ae feet4 ,at its eastern end it opens to an irregularly-shaped chamber of approximately #fj by #gj feet1 with a greatest height of #bj feet4 ,this chamber has been named #8,the ,auditorium' by the first exploring party4 ,cougar creek in its flow beneath ,mill bridge passes through the ,auditorium1 and as it falls #ge feet in a distance of #bjj feet1 from its entrance beneath ,mill bridge to the ,auditorium1 the chamber is replete with its roar1 and the name is appropriate1 though hardly in the conventional sense of the word4 ,faint daylight enters through the passageway of the waters and serves to make the surroundings look dim and mysterious4 ,the frosts of winter also reach this spot1 and in the spring stalactites and stalagmites1 formed of huge icicles1 are seen in columnar groups surrounding the dashing waters and extending some distance into the chamber itself4 ,in this particular spot disintegration has created much havoc and the walls no longer show the marks of water erosion1 while the floor is heaped with rock debris fallen from the ceiling4 ,the passageway1 however1 that connects it with the surface is still intact as a sample of the power of water erosion4 ,it is composed of a series of potholes1 connected one with the other by short narrow passages4 ,the bottom of each succeeding pothole1 as you recede from the entrance1 is at a lower elevation1 sometimes as much as ten or fifteen feet4 ,to make access possible1 ,deutschman has1 with the assistance of a bridge carpenter loaned by ,t4 ,kilpatrick1 superintendent of the ,canadian ,pacific ,railway ,company at ,revelstoke1 placed rough ladders from floor to floor4 ,most of these potholes hold water in the hollows at the bottom1 and1 in one case1 the water is so deep--#d or #e feet--and the potholes so wide that a floating bridge had to be built4 ,when it is realized that every bit of timber used in these constructions had to be hewn from the tree and transported on the shoulder or back1 over a road hardly accessible for a mountain goat1 to the place where it was utilized1 some idea of the magnitude of the work can be formed4 8,at one spot the passageway twists in a loop1 and here the potholes are of such a curiously spiral form that it has been named #8,the ,corkscrew4' ,across this bend1 about #ab feet above the main floor1 a gallery extends for #abj feet4 ,it is of a similar pothole formation1 but on a smaller scale than the main passageway4 ,directly below it1 at the lower end1 is a peculiar sharp spike of rock that has evidently been subsequently carved out by water pouring from this gallery1 as is readily shown by the erosionmarks on the component rocks4 ,in addition to the lines of erosion on the rock spike and in the gallery pothole1 honey-combing is seen on the right and high up on the left and1 still farther on the left1 spatulated markings to the depth of half an inch1 or a little over1 which is a very common feature in all three series4 8,throughout the ,mill ,bridge series1 with the exception of the ,auditorium1 the floors and ceilings are of water-worn rock1 and practically no debris has fallen away pointing to the fact that this channel is of more recent origin1 and the rock through which it has worn of a more compact stratification4 8,at one time it was reported that the roof of this passage was set with sparkling quartz crystals4 ,it turned out1 however1 that they were only drops of water that had collected through leakage or condensation4 ,some of the potholes are very curiously marked by thin incrustations of carbonate of lime spreading over their concave surfaces in florescent patterns4 ,overhead in many places are seen projecting spurs that have withstood the action of the water owing to superior hardness1 or that1 through some deflection of the current1 have not had the same force brought to bear upon them4 ,the waters of ,cougar creek are derived from the melting glaciers and snow deposits lining the sides of the peaks enclosing the valley and1 in consequence1 carry a considerable quantity of sediment1 composed of very fine rock particles4 ,the quantity of sediment carried would1 of course1 be greatest when the stream was at flood stage4 ,this sediment has doubtless been a factor of much importance in the erosive power of the waters1 and a residue may to-day be seen as a very thin mud-coloured coating on the walls and floors of the passageways1 where it has been deposited by the subsiding waters4 ,at a very high stage of water in the creek there was an overflow into ,entrance ,no4 #a that made the first exploration by ,w4 ,s4 ,ayres and party a wet and somewhat dangerous operation4 ,this overflow1 however1 was dammed back by ,deutschman1 and no further trouble has since been experienced with it4 ,the ,gorge ,series4 8,as stated above1 the exit of ,cougar creek from ,mill bridge takes place at the bottom of a narrow crack1 or gorge1 running at right angles to the general direction of the stream4 ,the ,gorge is #cjj feet in length1 about #ej feet wide1 and is spanned by two natural rock bridges4 ,the sides are composed of badly shattered limestone4 ,on emerging from its subterranean course beneath ,mill bridge1 the creek flows through the ,gorge #hj feet below the floor of the valley4 ,at the lower or north end is the opening that leads to the largest and most interesting of the series of passageways forming the ,nakimu ,caves4 ,the ,gorge forms a very striking feature of the external scenery1 and several places are accessible from which views may be had into its depths that are wild and impressive in the extreme4 ,the opening is a dome-shaped break in the wall forming the north end4 ,into this the stream tumbles with wild fury over a confusion of huge fragments of rock piled up in the passageway4 ,it creates leaps and falls and a dissemination of spray that makes the opening to the outer world1 as seen from below1 appear through a luminous mist4 ,the aperture is some thirty feet wide and about the same height4 ,illustration3 ,view from ,road--,mt4 ,avalanche1 ,eagle ,peak1 ,mt4 ,sir ,donald4 8,proceeding downwards1 at the foot of the falls1 the channel resumes its normal direction of a little south of east4 ,it is necessary here to cross the stream1 which swings northward into lower depths1 and from now on the passageways are quite free from wet1 though somewhat damp from the moistness of the ,atmosphere4 ,at the turn of the ,creek's direction you enter a chamber #aej feet long1 #be feet wide and from #aj feet high at the upper end to #cj feet at the lower end4 ,this chamber is dimly illuminated by the daylight from outside4 ,it is in a bad state of ruin1 and the floor is heaped with debris thrown from the ceiling and sides4 ,the roof is composed of one immense slab of rock sloping with the dip of the strata4 ,the creek has broken through the northeast wall nearly in the middle of the chamber and disappears into the blackness with a dull reverberating roar4 ,fifty feet beyond the creek1 the passage turns north again and it is necessary to descend a rock face of some #ab feet4 ,on it are natural notches or footholds that would seem as though they had been cut with a cold-chisel for the special purpose2 for persons unaccustomed to climbing1 it is well to use a rope to steady the descent at this spot4 ,the creek is now heard far down1 welling through some rock-cut with a dull1 intermittent pounding1 resembling the blows of an immense sledge-hammer4 ,forty feet to the right1 through a low roofed passage about #b feet high1 you creep into the #8,dropping ,cave4' ,it is about #cj by #dj feet and #f to #aj feet high1 and so named from the fact that water drops from the roof in all directions4 ,the floor is composed of broken rock fragments1 and the walls and ceilings of dark blue limestone marked in places by irregular streaks of white crystalline calcite4 ,at the eastern end1 a very narrow passage between fallen masses of rock1 affording barely room to squeeze through1 leads to #8,the ,witches ,ball-room4' ,it is #a to #b feet wide1 #c to #d feet high and some #bj feet in length4 8,the ,ball-room is roughly triangular in shape with sides of about #fj feet1 and an estimated height of #ej feet4 ,the largest portion of the space is occupied by an enormous rock that has fallen from the roof4 ,this rock has a generally level surface1 and is just the spot where a group of witch-hags might be expected to caper round the ghastly fumes of some hellish cauldron at a ,sabbath meeting2 hence the name1 in sympathy with the ill-omened and weird surroundings4 ,on all sides1 except that of the passage1 are deep cracks partly choked up by fallen blocks but still exposing many deep and pitch-black holes leading to the unknown1 where the underground stream is heard roaring dully4 ,by one of these1 at the northeast corner of the chamber1 ,w4 ,s4 ,ayres and ,c4 ,h4 ,deutschman penetrated to #8,the ,terror' and #8,the ,old ,mill1' the former #fj odd feet below the ,ball-room4 ,their explorations in this quarter are shown on the accompanying map1 in red1 and a description of them will be found in ,mr4 ,ayres' supplementary report4 ,many of the fallen blocks show crystalline calcite markings similar to those found in the ,dropping ,cave4 8,leaving the ,ball-room the passage leads southeasterly for a distance of #abe feet to where there is a parting of the ways4 ,the upper end is a vaulted chamber1 #ae to #bj feet wide and about #bj feet high1 a crack on the left1 leading to the depths below1 has been partly filled by fallen rock debris4 ,the broken blocks of which the floor is composed show crystallized dark blue limestone1 veined with white ribbons of calcite4 ,for the lower portion1 the passage lies between separated limestone strata from #c to #g feet apart2 the floor1 of broken boulders and slabs is very irregular4 ,both roof and floor are water-worn and show erosion markings4 ,they descend until they meet #bj to #cj feet below4 ,the subterranean stream is heard with a muffled roar on the left4 ,on the right1 three passages1 met at intervals1 lead to two circular funnel-like chambers1 the more distant of which has been named #8,the ,pit4' 8,it is now necessary to return to the surface and seek ingress to the caves by means of ,entrance ,no4 #c1 not far from the ,gorge on the eastern side4 ,entrance ,no4 #c is close by ,lookout point and is the first accessible opening seen on the journey up the valley4 ,a descent is made some #aj or #ab feet by a rough ladder1 placed by ,deutschman1 to a small cavern where there is just room for three persons to crouch4 ,off this1 a very narrow slit1 through which it is barely possible to squeeze1 opens to a narrow chute4 ,down this chute1 by means of a rope placed around the body1 a descent can be made some #bj feet1 to the brink of space4 ,from the final ledge a stone will drop a long way before it strikes4 ,the total distance from the opening to the brink of the ,pit is #fj feet4 8,when surveying the ,gorge series1 the writer discovered a very peculiar passage1 shown on the map as the #8,marbleway4' ,it was of a perfectly eroded structure1 composed of a number of small connected potholes in a dark bluish-grey limestone1 shot in every direction by ribbon streaks of white crystalline calcite4 ,the walls were dripping with moisture and rendered the limestone dead black and the veins of calcite vivid white1 the whole resembling a rich glistening marble4 ,this passage was followed to the larger one shown on the map1 and that in turn to the circular chamber named #8,the ,pit4' ,it seemed probable that this was the spot where stones1 dropped from the ledge attained by ,entrance ,no4 #c1 first struck1 so ,deutschman was sent to reconnoitre and1 not long afterwards1 his face could be seen near the extreme apex of the roof peering down through the dim halo of his tallow dip4 ,a stone tied to a cord and subsequently measured showed the drop to the floor of the ,pit to be #abj feet4 8,the chamber is about #bj feet in diameter and rises like a gigantic funnel to something over the height named4 ,the walls are similar to those of the ,marbleway1 and some of the effects are very peculiar1 reminding the beholder of forked lightning on a dead black background4 ,at the bottom of the ,pit was seen a very queer slab of rock1 shaped almost perfectly like a monumental tombstone1 and having directly in its centre1 as though carved by hand1 a cross 774 ,the descent from the floor of the ,pit to the main passage1 although slightly precipitous in one or two places1 is quite easy1 the distance being #abj and #acj feet by the main way and ,marbleway1 respectively4 ,the walls of the ,pit funnel are water-worn and1 at one time1 a stream flowed into it by ,entrance ,no4 #c1 doubtless being the cause of the formation of the chamber4 ,the stream1 which now only carries off the surplus flow from the melting snows1 has found another subterranean opening and joins ,cougar creek in its underground way1 somewhere beyond the ,ball-room4 8,at the meeting of the ways above referred to1 the lower or eastern one is named #8,the ,slanting ,way' from the fact that the passage is formed by a separation of the limestone strata1 and lies across their dip4 ,the upper passage has an arched roof and has been named #8,the ,subway4' ,both are difficult to traverse3 the former on account of the broken debris and sloping rock of which the floors are formed1 and of two uncomfortably narrow places which can be squeezed through with difficulty2 the latter on account of the close proximity of floor and ceiling and the necessity of bending nearly double for a considerable part of the distance while traversing it4 ,the lower passage is the easier of the two4 ,the strata forming the ,slanting ,way are from five to ten feet apart4 ,the slabs of both roof and floor are water-worn and bear spatulated erosion marks1 like incipient honey-combing4 ,on the east1 or left side1 as you advance1 are deep cracks in the strata1 at the bottom of whose depths ,cougar creek may be heard echoing loudly through the vaulted ways4 ,stones dropped into these seem to rebound for a long time before resting4 ,about the centre of the ,slanting ,way the cracks in the strata expand and a descent may be made to the bed of ,cougar creek below the ,turbine4 ,the ,turbine is reached by a rather difficult passage requiring some skill in climbing4 ,the end of the passage is an irregular opening in the rock4 ,across a chasm1 at whose bottom flows the main stream1 a number of water-spouts rush out with great force and a noise resembling that produced by water falling into the pit of a turbine4 ,for an account of this section see ,ayres' report4 ,near the south end of the ,slanting ,way is a curious pothole on the left-hand side4 ,directly beyond it the floor and walls are covered by an incrustation of carbonate of lime1 varying in thickness from #b to #f inches4 ,it is of a light creamy colour1 shading off in some places to a delicate salmon4 ,the formation has a florescent appearance and resembles1 mostly1 cauliflower heads set closely together1 a simile derived from ,w4 ,s4 ,ayres' report4 ,owing to the beautiful floral decorations1 this particular spot has been named #8,the ,art ,gallery4' 8,similar decorations are found throughout the ,caves1 though not so extensively as at this and a few other places4 ,at some1 there is only a thin veneer of the carbonate formation and1 at others1 rock-milk 7agaric mineral7 is seen on the floors and boulders4 ,the writer did not observe any stalagmites1 nor any stalactites worth speaking of4 ,the longest did not exceed #ae inches1 and resembled1 more than anything else1 a thin icicle of that length2 its chief interest being that it was clear and transparent1 as though made of ice1 and as brittle as glass4 8,the ,subway is about #aj to #ae feet wide and from #g to #b feet high2 the roof is arched and covered by moisture drops1 which are very unpleasant when they find their way down your back4 ,the floor is of broken rock1 rising to a ridge along the centre of the passageway4 8,from the meeting of the ways1 just beyond the ,art ,gallery1 the passage continues southeasterly1 ever increasing in interest4 ,in the next #bjj feet1 it varies in width from #ae to #cj feet with a height of #aj to #ae feet4 ,on the right is a narrow twisting side-opening named #8,the ,gimlet4' ,on the left are two concave sections of old potholes1 leading into the most subterranean depths4 ,they are profusely decorated by florescent carbonate incrustations1 the first one being named #8,the ,dome' from its perfect formation4 ,minor passageways lead from them at a still greater depth4 ,the most southerly one connects with #8,judgment ,hall1' to be described further on 7see map74 ,in this section the underground course of ,cougar creek crosses the corridor1 at a considerable depth below1 and the roar of the hidden waters is transferred from the left to the right hand4 8,a narrow opening1 #a feet wide and #ae feet long1 now leads to #8,carbonate ,grotto' where are seen very fine calcium decorations4 ,the ,cavern containing the grotto is about #fj by #cj feet1 with a height varying from #aj to #ae feet4 ,for the next #acj feet the passage varies from #h feet wide and #e feet high at the upper end to #bj feet wide and #e feet high at the lower end4 ,the sides are hung with rock shelves1 and spotted with lime incrustations2 the bottom is much impeded by fallen blocks4 ,you now find yourself in a cul-de-sac and apparently at the end of the series4 ,not so1 however1 for by squeezing through a narrow opening on the right1 barely noticeable in the darkness1 you are enabled to descend to probably the largest cavern of all1 at a depth of #eg feet below the corridor just left4 ,the chamber1 #bjj feet long1 #bj feet wide and #dj to #ej feet high has been named #8,judgment ,hall1' on account of a pillar which might stand for the pillar of justice4 ,the floor is littered by blocks broken from the roof and sides which lie piled in great heaps at the north end4 ,the roof is roughly arched1 and the sides rise upwards in parallel ledges resembling shelves4 ,roof1 sides1 and the rocks piled on the floor1 are covered by the white calcite and1 in many places1 present most beautiful patterns and beds of florescent formations4 ,the north end is connected by a rough passage with one of the potholes referred to below the meeting of the ways4 8,near the centre of the western wall1 a narrow gap leads to a very beautiful1 though small1 chamber named #8,the ,white ,grotto' by ,w4 ,s4 ,ayres4 ,the carbonate decorations here are of great beauty and delicacy4 ,the passage in which the chamber is found is #dj feet long1 #ae feet wide and #aj feet high4 ,the final cave has been named the #8,bridal ,chamber' by ,w4 ,s4 ,ayres1 owing to the purity of its lime draperies and the general beauty of its floral decorations4 ,it is small1 and beyond this point exploration has not yet been carried4 ,the passage breaks off in a precipice falling to a deep chasm1 at the bottom of which a subterranean stream1 probably ,cougar creek1 may be heard4 8,this is the farthest point to which the present survey has been carried4 ,it is #bdj feet from the ,wind crack1 previously referred to as being seen on the way up the valley1 and is only #ed feet above it2 it is safe to assume that there is a connection between4 ,the wind issuing from the crack is probably due to a water blast caused by the subterranean stream falling into the chasm at the end of the exploration4 8,there are two other passages1 or rather sets of passages1 that have not yet been mentioned1 viz43 #8,the ,ice ,cave1' situated above the deep entrance from the ,gorge4 ,it is reached from the valley floor and is not of large dimensions1 presenting only one chamber of any size1 which has been christened #8,the ,temple4' ,the series has been named the ,ice ,cave from the fact that the initial passage entrance is blocked by ice all the year round1 and an entry is effected over this blockage4 8,the second set of passages are entered immediately below the ,goat falls1 which pour into them until late in ,october1 when they become ice-bound4 ,last ,october1 the writer followed two of the passages--one for about #aej feet1 the other for about #ej feet--but could get no farther without material for bridging4 ,the formation resembles the passage leading to the ,auditorium1 but on a smaller scale1 viz41 a series of well formed potholes connected one with the other4 ,it is assumed that the flow from the ,goat falls1 the big bulk of which passes through these two channels1 empties into the main waterway at the ,turbine1 but its course may possibly be more direct4 ,if it does not1 however1 it is difficult to know where the water flowing in at the ,turbine comes from4 8,it is still something more than half a mile from the end of the present exploration to the final point at which the subterranean waters of ,cougar creek are returned to the surface bed4 ,there may consequently be accessible passageways that are yet undiscovered but1 as the surface grade over this unknown interior is much steeper and the subterranean creek bed is approaching the surface1 it seems probable that1 if existing1 they will be found inaccessible4 8,the fact of ,w4 ,s4 ,ayres having at two places within the ,gorge series reached the actual bed of the subterranean stream would point to there being no further passages below that level4 ,it would1 therefore1 appear that the largest accessible portion of the series is now on record4 ,much of the part shown in red on the accompanying map is difficult of access and dangerous to unskilled climbers4 ,indeed1 for that matter1 there are plenty of difficult places throughout40 ,formation of the ,caves4 ,mr4 ,ayres thinks that the ,caves have been formed entirely by water erosion1 but ,mr4 ,wheeler differs from him in this respect4 ,mr4 ,ayres says3-- 8,the rocks in which the ,cave occurs are of very hard crystalline limestone1 dipping about #cj degrees to the east4 ,in #8,entrance ,no4 #a' these beds are very thick and are made up of alternate bands of white1 mottled and grey marble4 ,some of the bands are very highly impregnated with fine sharp sand1 so much so1 in fact1 that excellent whetstones can be made from them4 ,illustration3 ,on the road #c miles from ,glacier4 ,white ,pine may be observed along the route--a very unusual spectacle in the ,selkirk range of mountains4 8,the ,cave has1 undoubtedly1 been formed entirely by water erosion4 ,the stream which formed it1 ,cougar creek1 is entirely made up of glacier and snow water1 and above the cave is free from any lime salts4 ,its capacity1 therefore1 to dissolve lime rock when brought in contact with it1 is at its maximum4 ,the fine grains of sharp sand1 loosened from the lime rock and caught in the swift current of the small stream that at first found its way through a shrinkage crack of some particular bed of limestone1 have undoubtedly given the water an uncommon erosive power1 which1 through the countless years of the cave's history1 has enabled that mountain torrent to carve out a mammoth channel in solid marble4 8,the absence of all stalactites and stalagmites1 such as are usually found in caves1 and the presence of curiously carved marble walls1 wonderfully carved in fantastic shapes and sombre colouring1 suddenly make one realize that he is far removed from things familiar40 ,the ,indian word 8,nakimu10 by which the ,caves are generally known1 has the ,anglo-,saxon equivalent of 8grumbling40 ,this might imply that in some distant past a seismic disturbance in the interior of the mountain resulted in its ,indian appellation1 or1 on the other hand1 it may be due solely to the rumbling sound of the subterranean torrent4 ,mr4 ,wheeler1 in differing from ,mr4 ,ayres as to the factors mainly instrumental in forming the underground channels and caverns as seen to-day1 states his conviction that an agency1 more potent and far-reaching than mere erosion and disintegration by the ordinary processes of nature1 has been at work4 ,in his arguments in this connection he says3-- 8,from the point where ,cougar creek first drops beneath ,gopher bridge1 the old surface channel may be traced1 though dammed and nearly obliterated in places4 ,if the natural dam shown at the first point of entrance were removed1 the stream would again revert to the old entrance4 ,southwest of the old entrance is a still older natural dam1 whose removal would allow the stream to proceed to the ,mill bridge2 thence1 following the ravine between the two camp grounds1 it would pass directly across the ,gorge1 supposing that great rift not yet to exist1 and flowing past #8,entrance ,no4 #c1' would descend in a cataract beyond ,lookout point4 8,there is no doubt that these particular beds of limestone are badly shattered in the mass4 ,it is shown by the fact that the surrounding streams1 the ,gopher falls1 the periodical stream flowing to ,entrance ,no4 #c1 and that of the ,goat falls all join the main stream by underground ways4 ,there are several other instances where the present bed of the creek could hardly be due to shrinkage and erosion1 as in the case of the deep rift of the ,gorge lying directly across the dip of the strata 7the strata dip a little south of east1 at an angle between #ce degrees and #dj degrees74 ,the same thing is noticed in the subterranean bed of the creek from the east end of the ,witches ,ball-room to where it crosses the main corridor near the ,art ,gallery4 8,from ,october #af to #ba1 last1 during the survey made of the ,gorge series by the writer1 though it was well below zero at the camp in the woods1 there was no frost found in the cave interiors at a short distance from the entrance4 ,thus1 two of the highest factors of disintegration1 sun and frost1 are lacking1 when accounting for the wholesale cleavage that has taken place within the old waterways4 ,the enormous size of the blocks1 moreover1 and the indication that the largest of them had been displaced a very long time ago would point to the agency of a severe shock or series of shocks such as would be caused by an earthquake or some similar seismic disturbance4 ,that such disturbances have taken place and acted in this particular locality is borne out by other curious phenomena for which it is difficult to find a different explanation4 8,in #aijd1 ,prof4 ,w4 ,h4 ,sherzer1 on behalf of the ,smithsonian ,institution of ,washington1 ,d4,c41 visited the ,canadian ,rockies for the purpose of studying their glaciers4 ,among a series of five1 he made a special study of the ,illecillewaet glacier situated about seven and a half miles from the ,caves4 ,at some distance from the present ice-tongue of the glacier1 were found two moraines about a third of a mile apart1 composed of enormous blocks of quartzite1 weighing in some single instances as much as #a1bej tons1 and retaining the original shape in which they were cast from the peaks above to the snow-field and glacier transporting them to the place where they are now found4 ,prof4 ,sherzer has named these #8,block ,moraines' in distinction to ordinary moraines composed of ice-worn1 rounded boulders imbedded in a species of cement1 commonly known as boulder clay4 8,the question is3 ,how and at what time were these block moraines formed4 ,at the present day the glaciers are wholly incapable of transporting such a load1 and no such quantities of material are to be found upon the snow-field1 below the peaks1 as would be necessary to form a similar moraine1 even during a protracted period of rest on the part of the glacier4 8,in the endeavor to ascertain a date for their formation1 ,prof4 ,sherzer cut down trees growing between the two moraines and counted the rings of growth4 ,the oldest was found to have an age of #eej years4 ,trees1 also1 growing on the inner or younger moraine were measured and the age of the oldest ascertained to be #ddg years4 ,allowing for the time required for the collection of sufficient soil to permit of growth taking place1 the moraine1 therefore1 would be between #ejj and #fjj years old4 8,professor ,sherzer points to the probability of seismic disturbances being the cause of these block moraines and that the material of which they are formed had been shaken from the peaks to the snow-field below4 ,making due allowance for the period of transportation of the material forming the inner moraine1 the earthquake would thus have occurred during the thirteenth century4 7,see #8,glacial ,studies in the ,canadian ,rockies and ,selkirks1 ,smithsonian ,expedition of #aijd1' by ,william ,hittell ,sherzer1 ,ph4 ,d47 8,that disturbances of this nature have taken place in ,canada at a much more recent date is pointed out in the above report by the following quotation from the #8,jesuite ,relations1' ,thwaites translations1 vol4 xlvii1 pp4 #cg-eg2 #ahc-bbc3 #8,on the fifth of ,february1 #affc1 towards half-past five in the evening1 a loud roaring was heard at the same time throughout the length and breadth of ,canadas4 4 4 4 ,on level ground1 hills have arisen2 mountains1 on the other hand1 have been depressed and flattened4 ,chasms of wonderful depth1 exhaling a foul stench1 have been hollowed out in many places1 plains lie open1 far and wide1 where there were formerly very dense and lofty forests4 ,cliffs1 although not quite levelled with the soil1 have been shattered and overturned4' ,illustration3 ,government building at the ,caves for the use of visitors4 8,if the origin of block moraines can be accounted for by seismic disturbances1 it is not improbable to assume that at some remote date a similar occurrence has shattered this bed of crystalline limestone and precipitated ,cougar creek from its surface course into subterranean channels1 which1 through the course of ages1 it has enlarged to their present size1 and that subsequent shocks have been mainly responsible for the large quantities of fallen debris that litter the interiors4 ,under such a condition of affairs1 the crack of the ,gorge1 and similar chasms found below the surface1 would be accounted for40 ,the gist of ,mr4 ,ayres' arguments concerning the probable age of the cave is contained in the following paragraphs3-- 8,the marble rocks in which the cave is formed belong most probably to the ,devonian age4 ,no fossils were found1 however1 to positively verify this conclusion4 ,the limestone rocks have not been completely changed into marble at all points as was observed under #8,gopher ,bridge' and in #8,the ,terror4' ,notwithstanding the fact that the rocks belong to a comparatively old series1 yet the beginning of the cave undoubtedly dates from a very recent geological time4 8,assuming the rate of erosion to be one thirty-second of an inch in a year1 then to cut down one hundred feet of rock1 which is about the average amount eroded in the main cave1 would require #ch1djj years4 ,any actual rate greater or less than this assumption would increase or diminish the age of the cave4 ,in several places along ,cougar creek in the bottom of the cave an excellent opportunity is afforded to determine actually the present annual rate of erosion4 ,a micrometer measuring apparatus should be used and the area of cross-section of the rock eroded per year thus accurately computed4 ,also the ratio between the area of the cross-section of the average stream and the area of the rock eroded should be determined4 ,and finally1 the quantity of water passing the given section in one year1 and its velocity1 should be accurately measured4 8,in contemplating the foregoing suggestion as to the probable age of the cave1 it should be borne in mind that where gravel and sand lodge in the bed of the stream the rate of erosion is many times less than where the bed is continually swept clean by a more rapid current40 ,,excursion ,,suggestions4 ,nakimu ,caves may be reached by travelling to ,glacier1 in ,glacier ,park1 ,b4,c41 on the ,canadian ,pacific railway1 and from that point either by walking or riding on a pony a distance of about seven miles along excellent road and trail4 ,illustration3 ,a pic-nic party at the ,caves4 ,the distance to the ,nakimu ,caves from ,glacier ,house by way of the wagon road--,illecillewaet river and ,cougar creek1 is #g miles2 by horse trail1 via ,rogers pass over the summit of ,baloo pass to the ,caves1 the distance is #c miles farther4 ,baloo pass is #ffha feet above sea-level1 and from the summit is an extensive view1 including not only the ,hermit range and ,mc,donald1 but the ,dawson peaks1 ,bishop range and the mountains that girt ,cougar valley4 ,at the ,caves is a government building especially adapted for campers1 with cook stoves and other conveniences4 ,parties desiring to camp can make arrangements by writing to ,c4 ,h4 ,deutschman1 ,the ,caves1 ,glacier1 ,b4,c4 ,this camp is the starting point for many easy and hard rock climbs4 ,from ,cheops1 whose altitude is #h1ejf feet above sea-level1 but only #c1cjj feet above the cabin1 the view is unsurpassed1 owing to its central location4 ,the climb takes #c hours and1 from the top1 over #bjj glaciers can be counted1 and on a clear day the ,rocky mountains1 #aej miles away1 can be seen guarding the horizon with rugged peaks4 ,cougar mountain 7altitude1 #g1hhb feet1 #b1ejj feet above the camp7 is an easier and shorter climb of #b hours4 ,ursus ,major1 altitude1 #h1icj feet2 ,ursus ,minor1 altitude1 #i1jbf feet2 ,catamount1 altitude1 #h1ief feet2 ,bagheera1 altitude1 #i1jif feet and many others1 are within the limit of a day's climb4 ,the ice caves under the ,glacier at the head of ,cougar valley are also worth a visit4 ,for botanists1 this is a paradise1 the alpine and sub-alpine flowers being gorgeous and abundant1 and many rare species are found here4 ,over #aej species can be gathered in a short time in ,july or ,august4 ,a two days' camping trip may be undertaken as follows3-- ,from ,glacier ,house via ,baloo pass to the ,nakimu ,caves1 exploring ,bear creek and ,cougar valleys1 spending the night at ,camp1 visiting 8,the ,caves0 and arriving at ,glacier in time for dinner the following evening4 ,illustration3 ,,department ,,of ,,the ,,interior ,,topographical ,,map ,,showing ,,the ,,position ,,of ,,the ,,nakimu ,,caves in ,cougar ,creek ,valley1 ,selkirk ,mts4 ,british ,columbia ,transcriber's ,notes --,some palpable typographical errors were corrected4 --,copyright and publisher's information was included from the printed copy3 this e,book is public domain in the country of publication4