The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-14
FROM MAJOR PowELL's SCIENTIFIC Elk
petition.
From the Snake to Middle Park.
Georgetown, August %, 1867.

Georgetown, August %, 1867.
To the Editor of the ARGUS:
The route from Argentine to Georgetown
is nearly descending repetition of that from
Georgetown up, with the exception of as
cending the Peru side of Anderson's Pass.
The mountain here rises at an angle of
about forty-five degrees, to the height of
about 800 feet above the valley of the
creek. Up this slope the trail winds over
sharp fragments of loose rock. The rarity
of the air and steepness of the trail were the
principal difficulties in the ascent but, by
short climbs and frequent rests, the summit
at last was gained.
Upon arriving at Georgetown l, with two
others, started, by way Of Empire, for the
Hot Sulphur Springs, in Middle Park. We
were to follow Jones' Road up from Empire
until we struck Berthonds trail, but, owing
to the straying proclivities of our pack mule,
| we were detained until our friendly guide,
who had sttrted in advance expecting to
| meet us at Empire, was missed upon the
| road. We pushed on, however, and en-
| camped for the night upon the rocky banks
of the right hand branch of Clear Creek
| Camping for the night in this country con.
sists in spreading our blankets upon the
| most level patch of ground to be found
among the trees or rocks. With plenty of
wood around US, large fire was soon kin
| died, and ham fried, cakes baked and coffee
| boiled, and, with the addition of plentiful
| supply of raspberries, picked upon the road,
| a supper fit for any hungry man was soon
disposed of.
Upon the following morning we rode on,
| irrespective of guide, thinking the path to be
| so plain as not to be mistaken. But in fol-
lowing the wagon road we had passed its
| junction with the trail and followed that
which proved to be the road over Jones'
Pass.
Upon arriving at the summit our mistake
was easily discovered, for from this high ele
walton we could trace out the surrounding
country as upon a map. Before US, to the
west, several streams could be distinctly
| traced, winding their way from their snowy
| source through rich densely wooded noun
tains, while, far in the distance, was seen
the ragged range of the Blue, showing that
| their waters emptied into the Pacific Ocean.
To the east, looking down the valley of
| Clear Creek, (which we had passed through
far beyond the intervening hills and noun
tains, could be seen patch of the great
prairie appearing dimly in the distance like
far-off ocean while to the north, the Mid
die Park spread out far off towards the hori-
zon, bounded on all sides by snowy ranges,
its low hills and grassy parks forming quite
a wonderful contrast to the surrounding
country.
From this point we could easily see where
Berthond's trail must cross into the park,
and accordingly we retraced our steps until
we reached the foot of the trail where we en-
camped for the night, and upon the follow
ing morning, after few hours toilsome rid
ing and walking, stood upon the summit of
Berthond's Pass. This is the lowest pass in
the mountains, being some distance below
the timber line.
We now had long, densely. wooded val
lev, through which we must pass before
reaching the distant open park. Our down
stream, through dense pine woods, over
rocky hills, across fallen timber and marshy
hill sides, until we arrived near the lowest
part of the valley. Here the trail opened at
intervals into small grassy parks; and in the
eddying waters of the stream could be seen
small brook trout, some of which we success
fully deceived with feathered hook.
A few miles more forest travelling, and we
| emerged into an open grassy valley, which
declared us fairly in the park.
| The park is large tract of country, about
| fifty miles in extent from east to west, and
| seventy from north to SOUTH surrounded up
| on all sides by high snow covered mountains.
| Although three thousand feet above the
plains upon the eastern slope, the geology of
| the Middle Park is the same as that of the
| plains at the foot of the mountains. Small
plateaux, low, treeless hills, and sharp ridg-
| es, (called "Hog Backs'') traverse it in all
| directions. Between these are low valleys
covered with nourishing grass. Large guam
| titles of sage brush are upon the hill sides,
which is often frequented by the sage hen.
In the streams of the park trout are very
| plenty.
The great scarcity of game in this park
and the mountains is really surprising
During weeks stay and journeying through
| the park saw no game of any description.
A few hawks and small ground squirrels was
the only animal life we met.
| When within four miles of the springs we
suddenly came down upon small grassy
plat upon which were encamped ten or
twelve lodges of Ute Indians. Wishing to
have closer view of their quarters, j rode
from our party and approached them. They
saluted me with "How, How" and "Where
| you going ?" ] dismounted and signifed
my desire to 'swap," which brought out a
| number of squaws and old men with Ante
iope, buck and Beaver skins, for which they
wanted beads. But when / pronounced
them mo wins" they appeared very much
Seeing quite small boy standing close
by with a fancy Antelope shirt on, 1.-THE only
clothing ne wore) offered four strings of
beads tor 1t, when in minute the boy stood
naked before me. gave them the beads.