There the eye penetrates into vast ravines two or three hundred feet in depth, that are clothed with trees, and lie on either side of the narrow pathway descending to the river over eight successive ridges of hills.
At one spot termed the Cockscomb, the traveller stands insulated as it were on a small slip, where a false step might precipitate him into the glen.

From this place Mr.Back took an interesting and accurate sketch, to allow time for which, we encamped early, having come twenty-one miles.
The Methye Portage is about twelve miles in extent, and over this space the canoes and all their cargoes are carried, both in going to and from the Athabasca department.

It is part of the range of mountains which separates the waters flowing south from those flowing north.

According to Sir Alexander Mackenzie, "this range of hills continues in a S.W.
direction until its local height is lost between the Saskatchawan and Elk Rivers, close on the banks of the former, in latitude 53 deg.

36' N., longitude 113 deg.