Page:The Selkirk mountains (1912).djvu/116

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
102
Guide to The Selkirk Mountains.

complete circle: and the eroding of the amphitheatre with the weathering of the exposed surface has laid the formation open to view. At the top of the peak, for it has the appearance of a peak seen from below, the strata stands nearly vertical. They then descend, describing a pear-shaped synclinal curve, and rise upward until they lie beside the original folds. The height is a little over 1,000 feet.

Ursus Major, Mt.—Name: By the Topographical Survey in relation to Bear Creek.

Altitude: 8,930 feet.

Location: A mountain of the Hermit Range rising at the heavy of Bear Creek, on the north side of Baloo Pass.

First Ascent: By the Topographical Survey in 1902.

Route: (1) Reached from Glacier House by trail to Rogers Pass and thence by trail up Bear Creek to the summit of Baloo Pass whence the remainder of the route is obvious.

Time required: From Baloo Pass, 1½ hours; from Glacier House, 5 hours.

(2) A second route to Baloo Pass is via the Loop trail and Cougar trail past the Caves of Cheops. Both routes require the same time.

Climb: nearly all rock. For novices a guide is necessary. From the summit there are good views of Cougar Valley, Bear Creek Valley and the Valley of Mountain Creek, and of the peaks to the north. The mountain carries glaciers on its north and south faces.

Ursus Minor, Mt.—Name: By the Topographical Survey in relation to Bear Creek.

Altitude: 9,026 feet.

Location: A mountain of the Hermit Range on the north side of Bear Creek, between Ursus Major and Mt. Grizzly. Most easily reached by trail to Rogers Pass and up Bear Creek.

Time required: 5 hours.

Climb: Chiefly rock. A guide is necessary for novices. View: Nearly the same as from Ursus Major. A small glacier is on its north face.

Uto Peak—Name: By Prof. C. E. Fay.

Altitude: 9,610 feet.

Location: A peak of the Sir Donald Range immediately north-west of Mt. Sir Donald.

First Ascent: By Messrs. Huber and Sulzer in 1890.

Route: Reached from Glacier House by the water-course lead ing to the Overlook; thence to the arête between Eagle and Uto Peaks and up to arête to the summit.

Time required: 4 hours.

Climb: rock. A guide is necessary fur novices.

View: Uto Peak commands excellent views on all sides except that next to Mt. Sir Donald whose near north-west arête shuts off the outlook in that direction. The view of Rogers Pass Basin is par ticularly good, and of the Beaver River Valley looking down; also of Avalanche Glacier immediately above which the peak rises on the south side. Of the view from the arête Herr Huber says: "We stood upon the mighty partition which, extending from north-west to south-east, confines the glacier lands of the Selkirks on the east.