like amphitheatres with cliffs behind & open in front. Climbed up along the knife edge toward the central peaks. The only path exceedingly rocky & treacherous. In one place obliged to climb down a steep rocky face only a foot or two from the edge of a precipice hundreds of feet deep & appearing to overhang the lake. Got at last on a round topped summit & found that must go down again some distance & climb round the flank of another mountain to get to the Monument. The hillside however so steep & rocky that could not pass along it safely. So got on top of ridge again & clambered on over rocks. Came at last to a very bad cliff overlooking the Monument by 100 or 200 feet. Down this it was very difficult to go & to round it one must travel a long way. Felt quite contented with proximity & sat down to enjoy view while one or two adventurous men went on to the Monument itself. Stop on a beautiful little meadow among the rocks evidently much frequented by mountain sheep, three of which were seen making their way up on distant ridge. Many alpine plants growing near the snow which still lies here in large drifts & fills some of the vallies on the higher peaks.

The view wonderfull. In valley to E. of Monument a large lake & another smaller in size. The water evidently deep (see diagram) & from our birdseye view intensive opalescent indigo colour. Other