Diary, 1903-1904, of trips with A. F. Camsell, Merritt Cary, and Alfred Emerson Preble to the Athabaska-Mackenzie region
Page 47
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Transcription
Friday Aug 28. Mr. made an early start and paddled in a general S.E. course along the shore. The day was fine but the smoke which had moved with a change of wind spread over the surrounding country obscured our view and made us much unnecessary and useless work as we could not see the points and consequently went to the bottom of several days. During the forenoon we paddled along a coast similar to that at our camp, a few rocky islands were passed. Back from the shore the Mt. rose high and higher in irregular ranges. As we proceeded we passed many ravines filled with loose rock and without any vegetation— recently moraines. In the afternoon we passed the mouths of two deep bays bounded by high rocky hills. Then we found that what we had considered as high island was the extremity of a long point which we had to round that the smoke not shut off our view, we could easily have crossed the bay instead of going to its down. This point was evidently morainic origin and was in places 100 feet above the shore. It was all of loose improach and supported no vegetation except a very few willows near the water. It was terminated by a high precipitous rock. This point was about 5 miles long and probably 2 miles at its base which was fairly well marked for about 2 miles. The rest being without trees as stated. Rounding this point we paddled back along its dreary and monstrous shore, and had already reached its base before we found that another similar out-starter point must be rounded. This we did and turning back down its westerly shore came to a small bay.