Page:The Selkirk mountains (1912).djvu/67

Rh the Illecillewaet River following an old "tote" road, used in construction days. Passing through rich forests of cedar, fir and hemlock, it skirts the base of Mt. Cheops for 3 miles, touching the railway at the Loop and not again until near the water-tank at the entrance of Cougar Valley, when it winds high on the slopes of Mt. Cheops, east of Cougar Brook. Before reaching the Caves, the trail forks, one leading to Baloo Pass to meet the trail in Bear Creek.

View: All along the valley are wonderful views of far and near mountains and glaciers, changing with the winding of the high trail. None should miss a visit to this valley. A carriage drive is being built.

Time required: Should the excursion include Baloo Pass and Bear Creek, one day will suffice. S. H. Baker, the outfitter at Glacier, recommends the following route: Leave the hotel at 9 a.m., taking the coolest route in the heat of the day—Rogers Pass, through the woods of Bear Creek, over the wind-blown Baloo Summit, arriving at the Caves about 12.30; half an hour to stretch limbs: then lunch and a visit to the Caves, leaving by 3.30 p.m. and riding down Cougar Valley when the day is growing cool to reach the Hotel by 6.30, in plenty of time to dress for dinner. The round excursion with pony and guide (not Swiss) costs $4.00.

Cougar Mt.—Name: With reference to Cougar Brook.

Altitude: 7,882 feet.

Location: Immediately south and west of Cougar Brook.

First Ascent: By F. E. Weiss and Mrs. E. S. Weiss with guide Edouard Feuz, Sr.

Route: The ascent can be made from almost any immediate point.

Time required: The highest point can be reached in 5 hours from Glacier. Though a comparatively easy rock-climb, novices ought to take a Swiss guide. The mountain has a long serrated summit extending westerly to Caribou Creek. Its most interesting feature is the pyramidal face of smooth rock on its east side, conspicuous from many points of view.

Cheops, of Caves (Nakimu Caves)—Name: Original name by Topopgraphical Survey, with reference to Mt. Cheops within whose base they are situated. Subsequently, for some unknown reason, it was changed to Nakimu Caves, and the name has been adopted by the Geographic Board of Canada. The word "Nakimu" is said to be Indian, meaning "spirits," and to have reference to noises that issue from their subterranean waters.

Altitude: 5,100—5,600 feet.

Location: At the bend of Cougar Brook where the upper and lower valleys join. They extend into the south elopes of Mts. Ursus Major and Cheops and into the north slopes of Cougar Mt. At the point where the Caves are formed is a bed of crystalline limestone, which would appear to have been shattered by some seismic disturbance in a previous age. At a certain point in the valley the stream disappears under ground, re-appearing again some 400 or 500 feet farther on. The intervening space is called Gopher Bridge from the great number of little Parry marmots making their homes in the ground there. All about are their well-beaten trails, miniatures of the paths made by men and big game.