The western side of the ridge is in some places quite precipitous, but there is a fairly good track running along its entire extent to the top.  Sometimes the road is protected with stones, and in other places even with walls, on the outer side.  Although the ascent is, at times, steep, the top can be reached on horseback.

The path strikes a natural terrace, and on this is seen a ruined house group built of undressed stones on the bare rock.  Some of the walls are twenty-four inches thick.  And a little to the south of it is a large mound, from which a Mormon has excavated two rooms.  A very well-built stone wall runs for more than 100 paces from north to south on the western, or most easily accessible, side of the pueblo.

After leaving this ancient little village, we made a pleasant ascent to the top, where a strikingly beautiful panorama opened up before us on all sides.  The summit commands a view of the fertile valleys for miles around in every direction.  To the west is the valley of the Piedras Verdes River, and to the east the valley of Casas Grandes; and in the plains to the south the snakelike windings of the San Miguel River glitter in the sun.  Toward the north the view is immense, and fine mountains form a fitting frame for the landscape all around the horizon.

What a pre-eminently fine position for a look-out!  As I contemplated the vast stretches of land commanded from this point, I pondered for how many centuries sentinels from this spot may have scanned the horizon with their eagle eyes to warn their people of any enemy approaching to disturb their peaceful occupations.

The fort is circular and about forty feet in diameter.  The surrounding wall is on one side about eleven feet high and very broad, while in other places it is much lower and narrower.  There are four clearly outlined chambers in the centre; but by excavations nothing could be found in them, except that the flooring was one inch thick.

It was quite warm here.  Some birds were about, and there were a few flowers out.  Wild white currant bushes were growing inside of the fortress, breathing delicious fragrance.  But aside from the top, the mountain was all but barren of vegetation.

A few days afterward I went on an excursion up the Casas Grandes Valley, as far as the Mormon colony Dublan.  This valley, which is about fifteen miles long and equally as broad, is very fertile where properly irrigated, and maize and wheat fields delight the eye.  Naturally, the country is well populated, and the mounds which are met with everywhere prove that this was already the case in ancient times.  In fact, mounds, in groups or isolated, are numerous as far north as Ascension.

How richly the apparently poor soil repays the labour which man expends on it may be seen in the flourishing colony the Mormons have here.  Wherever they go, the Mormons transform waste land into scenes of prosperity, so much so that the Mexicans attribute the success of these indefatigable developers to a gold mine, which they are supposed to work secretly at night.