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[[underlined]] Yakima Valley [[/underlined]]

back of the timber and sarcobatus or sagebrush flats extend farther back to the hill.

Good crops of wheat are raised by white men on rented Indian land & a large amount of hay is cut by the whites. No Indian ranches were seen & but few Indians. large droves of horses & cattle in good condition were seen all along.

Cool, clear & windy. roads dusty and in places sandy. Came about 26 miles.

[[underlined]] July 18 [[/underlined]] Started early and reached North Yakima soon after noon, went to the P.O. and were surprised to find it closed. On inquiry learned that today was Sunday. so we pulled out of town and camped in Lewises pasture a mile north. Found a good shady place on the bank of the river, made a pleasant camp, and devoted the rest of the day to resting, writing, reading and preparing a few specimens.

North of Toppenish the valley narrows to a gap where the river has cut through a range of hills. Above this gap the valley again widens to a broad, level valley surrounding Yakima & North Yakima. North of this valley again the river cuts through a narrow gap in another ridge running east & west. The surrounding ridges are stony, brown & bare. and range from 1000 to 2000 feet high.

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The Cascades lie in plain sight to the west with Adams looming up and the peak of Ranier showing over a ridge.

The valley is some 8 miles wide N. & S. and much longer east & west. It is level & well watered by the river & creeks & springs. The greater part of it is cultivated & irrigated, but some large areas of stony sagebrush land still lie open. The native plants on the dry soil are mainly Sonoran species the same as lower down the valley.

[[underlined]] July 19 [[/underlined]] Remained in camp preparing for a side trip to the Columbia and getting Loring started on a RR trip into eastern Washington.

Tried to wade across Yakima River to set traps on the other side but had to give it up. The water was too swift and too deep.

[[underlined]] July 20, [[/underlined]] Left tent & most of outfit with Walter Fisher in charge at the ranch. With Ogle & the backboard & a light outfit for 4 days I started for the Columbia River at Priest Rapids. Crossed the Yakima River at the Moxe Bridge, 2 miles below North Yakima & struck east about 40 miles to Tub Spring where we ought to have camped, but instead we went 4 miles beyond and camped a a fine spring in the side of the Rattlesnake Hills