direction of the Beaver Valley. That is, the Beaver flows north-west, and the Duncan south-east. The two together form what is known as the Purcell Trough, extending for nearly 100 miles in a north-west and south-east direction parallel to the axis of the Selkirk Range. Beaver Valley is remarkable for its luxuriant vegetation and heavy growth of fir, hemlock and spruce. Devil's club (prickly alalia) and skunk cabbage grow in dense profusion. The beautiful forests on the floor of the valley are interspersed with open marshy meadows of bright green. These and the sinuous, milky river make striking though harmonious contrast in color. Much of the timber on the mountain slopes, where the valley is traversed by the railway, has been burned during construction days; and now nothing remains of these grand forests but an unsightly array of gaunt skeletons and fallen giants. Fires are the bane of the mountains. Since the advent of the railway, forests containing trees centuries old have been destroyed; and though a fresh growth may soon spring up, a generation must go by ere the desolate tracts are reforested. For 1,000 feet up these burnt slopes huckleberry bushes grow bearing prodigally in the season.
The Beaver joins the Columbia more than a mile from Beaver-mouth Station on the railway. Close by this point the railway swings out of the Columbia Valley and ascends the Beaver Valley, making an ascent of 1,000 feet in sixteen miles. It then turns up the valley of Bear Creek to cross the Selkirks by Rogers Pass. The first two miles up the Beaver is in a canyon, where the waters rush through a narrow gorge, known as a "box canyon." Here the strata are tilted in knife-edges and the river, foaming between the slabs, is wildly picturesque. Emerging from this canyon, the railway overlooks the valley as described above. In the early days of construction, first a pony trail and then a waggon road were built up this part of the valley, but are now fallen into disuse. From Beaver Creek Station to the source of the stream a good pony trail still exists, though frequently impeded by fallen timber. There are many places of striking interest, such as: The Gateway, Mountain Creek Crossing. Cedar Creek Crossing, Surprise Creek Bridge, Stony Creek Bridge. From mouth to source, however, is an endless galaxy of spectacular mountain effects that cannot be surpassed in the entire system. Should the Government or the Railway Company provide for the upkeep of suitable trails, it would be quite easy to go from the Beaver Valley on to the Prairie Hills and return by Grizzly Creek, making a round excursion, attractive and interesting and comfortable for persons unable for mountaineering.
Bishop's Range—Name: By Topographical Survey with reference to the contour of its two highest peaks. Seen from Donkin Pass, these peaks combine in resemblance to an episcopal mitre.
Altitude: 10,762 feet.
Location: Ten miles south-easterly from Glacier, immediately south of the Dawson Range.
Route: Reached via Asulkan Pass, Dawson Glacier, Donkin Pass, Bishop's Glacier.
Time required: Three days of good weather, two nights out. Route inaccessible to ponies; outfit must be carried. The two highest peaks are Cyprian (10,712 feet) and Augustine (10,762).
