Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-10-03
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1866.
M I 8 Q ELLANT
4 irIp to GOIOFadO--AdVen
IN the Middle Park,

] Bayard Taylor writes from Camp
near Blue river, Middle Park. July !
/ 1906, to the New York Tribune, as fol
lows; Our first morning in camp found
/ Us sore, stiff, and but half refreshed at.
. ter the hardships Of crossing the pass.
/ Nevertheless, we breakfasted. saddled.
/ packed, and got under way with alac-
r1ty, encouraged by the prospect of Il
restorative bath at the Hot Springs.
which are said to heal all sorts of all
ments, bring the hair to bald heads,
and put new blood into old veins.
The trail bore away TO the left of
Frazer river, over gently undulating
ground, still wooded, but the trees
were smaller, the soil dry, and the in
ereaslng CLEANS OF sky, through the
topmost bOughs, indicated that we
were getting out OF the mountains. On
the way we found a geranium-pink,
veined purple ia beautiful orchard, al
most identical with the cyclamen Of
Italy and Greece violets, rose -colored
pogonias, with a delicate peach bios.
som odOr, and huge beds Of snow
white, golden hearted star flower. The
occasional openings among the pines
were natural gardens, which | regret
ted to see trampled upon by the hoof
Of our beasts
After riding thus for half an hour,
there was an exclamation from the
foremost OF the party. The long, long
forest was at an end, we found our
selves at the head OF superb meadow
stretching westward for five or SIX
miles, bounded on the north, first by
low gray bills Of fantastic shape, then
by great green ascending slopes of for
est; and above all, Jagged ranges OF
rock and show. On the south were
low sweils Of pine and aspen, near at
hand; twenty miles behind them de-
tacbed spurs Of mountains conspicuous
among which rose a lofty wedge-liko
peak
After crossing number Of swollen
streams which came down from the
left. we reached a higher and dryer
part Of the meadow, and the strong,
juicy grass gave place to sage bush
and howers-a plain OF silver gray,
sprinkIed with myriad minute dots
OF color. The odor which filled the
air was so exquisite as slightly to in
toXicate the senses. For miles | seem
ed to be riding through a Turkish ba-
zaar, and inha.ing the mingled scent
Of cloves, sandal wood and altar OF ro-
ses My aches and cramps were for
gotten; | swan in an atmosphere Of
balm, half narcotized with the rich
voluptuous delight OF breathing it.
White started up very large fox,
which was cunning enough TO keep
out Of riie-range. We skirted the
wood on the left, and left the meadow
for low, dry plateau, which was one
mile long bed Of blue lark spurs and
scarlet star-wort The grazing ami
mails had been added to our caballada.
and we sped mcrriIy along the trail, in
creasing the breadth and sweep Of our
panoramic landscapes. IS wr penetra
ted deeper into the hilIl region. lex
changed my mare for a ,ough little In
dian pony, barefooted, but Dimble and
intelligent; after inspecting me with
his nose, and apparently finding no oh.
lection, he established confidential re-
Iations at once, and has served me.
thus far, with unswerving fidelity.
1t was a singular country through
which we rode, and / regret that | am
not able to describe its geological char
acter. Hills wooded with aspen, and
narrow, grassy dells, allernated with
wide sweeps Of irregular table land,
| treeless and bare, except for q, growth
Of sage and lark spur. The valleys Of
the larger streams which thread the
Middle Park where shut out from view,
but the distant cincture of Alpine sum
mits met the eye in every direction.
We rode twenty milos-two-thirds of
the distance to the Hot Springs
made brief moon camp beside asbrook,
and then pushed forward again toward
a lofty range of hills which arose be-
fore US
Gradually, all the eastern portion Of
the Park came into view. | readily
distinguished the Berchoud Pass, as
we'll as that at the head of Clear Greek,
and could roughly measure by the eve
both their elevation above the Park
and the character Of the approaches
which they offer for a railroad. On
this side OF the mountains there seems
to be no difficulty, except such as
might arise from heavy SHOWS during
the winter. To the northeast, Mr. By
ers pointed out the Boulder Pass, which
rises above the timber line, but is al
most bare Of snow. 1t is practicable
for wagons, but is very little travelled.
An isolated chimney rock, two or three
hundred feet in height, stands like a
beacon on the very summit OF this