THE M A G A Z I N E - Desert Magazine of the Southwest

lue limestone underlain by white quartzite. The blue limestone
has weathered to form huge pinnacles. Above this wall
of limestone, what might be called the Upper Hidden Forest
canyon extends several miles, ending at the foot of Hayford
peak at a point northeast of the other canyon. Hayford, known
to the old-timers as Niggerhead peak, is the highest mountain
in the Sheep range, having an elevation of 9,730 feet.
Southwest of Hidden Forest canyon, Sheep peak towers to an
elevation of 9,706 feet.
On the north wall of the canyon great outcroppings of limestone
and conglomerate occur. The tops of the peaks are mainly
of badly jointed and weathered blue limestone, although a
few are of sandstone. Between Sheep peak and Hayford peak
the country is badly faulted. Some of the strata are tilted to
nearly vertical position while others are practically horizontal.
The vertical outcroppings are found high on the west bank of a
canyon leading off to the northwest of the Hidden Forest
canyon. Higher on this same bank, the limestone takes on the
shape of a huge wall, on which the corners have been
weathered round and many caves have been developed. In
one place a natural bridge has been formed. Under the north
end of the bridge is a large cave with stalactites hanging from
the ceiling and stalagmites on the floor. The bridge was
formed by the collapsing roof of a limestone cave, leaving a
portion still standing to form the arch. To the south and west
is an outcropping of conglomerate of sandstone, quartzite, and
blue limestone. Below this to the south is another outcropping
of limestone with a number of caves, in front of which are
the remains of crude shelters evidently built by the Indians
who inhabited this region hundreds of years ago. Inside the
caves we found charred wood.
Quest for Indian Sun Temple
Following our discovery of the evidence of prehistoric cave
dwellers, the mystery of the so-called Indian Sun Temple
again became uppermost in our minds. A short distance northwest
of the Indian caves we came upon a natural amphitheater
carved out of the rocks. The formation is high above the canyon
floor and is in the shape of a large crescent with vertical
7 5-foot walls. Inside of the crescent and extending down to
the floor of the canyon, great quantities of broken rocks cover
the mountain sides. This amphitheater was formed by
the breaking off of portions of the wall, leaving the crescentshaped
structure of red, yellow and white sandstone. One
might imagine this to have been a natural temple of sun worship.
There is no evidence that the place was ever frequented
by the Indians, however.
Although snow can be found in the sheltered places nearly
all year, there is no running water in Hidden Forest. A small
spring is located about a hundred yards northwest of the end
of the road where the canyon divides. Motorists going into
this area should carry plenty of water and should also be
equipped with shovel and axe. Fire precautions are especially
important here. This area is too fine to be despoiled by careless
humans.
As Jim and I stood on the jagged ridge midway between
Hayford peak and Sheep peak, we could see below us the full
extent of the Hidden Forest canyon with its many varieties of
trees. In the late afternoon the outcropping pinnacles of rock
cast queerly shaped shadows across the canyon walls. The deep
silence is broken only by the calls of the birds and the whisper
of wind in the pines. There is peace and mystery in the solitude
of this remote forest-oasis in the Nevada mountains.
NOVEMBER, 1938 15