The Montana post., 1868-09-18

NUMBER THREE.

the ladies are very fond OF excursions.
Il is no uncommon thing for a dozen Of
Ghe1n TO start of at daylight, on horse
back, and spend the day in some of the
numerous places favorable 20 pic-nics.
which are found in the mountains within
easy distance. AT the head of Alder
tiulch and overlooking il with its frown-
ing summit, Tiven by earthquakes, and
scanned with numerous ravines and ris>
ing TO a height of 5000 feet above the
level of the sea stands Baldie mountain,
the grandest landmark in this portion OF
The Territory. During spring and part
OF the summer months IL is invariably Y
covered with snow. and when the sun
becomes Sufficiently intense TO dissipate
-his snow cap, Alder Gulch is flied with
water, which pours into it from the de-
clivities Of old Baldie. Some miners and
q few citizens have ventured the hazard
Gus task of ascending this cragged rock.
But to the elite. and as before remarked
10 the ladies OF Virginia especially, 1T has
remained, until now, perfect terror, in
cognita. Mythical stories have been
-old of old Baldie. Ii has been supposed
20 be the abode of ghosts, elves, satyrs
and fairies. No one, so far as can learn,
has ever seen or heard of any OF these
spiritual animals, but bears, mountain
lions, and snesking wolves, inhabit its
reoesses in wonderful profusion.
Ever since the SHOWS disappeared
from old Baldie this summer. there has
leen a desire, originating with the la
dies Of this city, 10 make an excursion
20 its summit. This eliminated yester-
day. Pursuant to little arrangement
made the evening previous, at an early
hoar yesterday morning seven or eight
Of the leading ladies of Virginia, ac-
Companied by as many gentlemen, in
Guiding the Governor, the Episcopal
clergyman OF the parish, our jolly post
Il agent, Clampitt, and the "Psrson"
himself, all mounted on strong horses,
cook their winding way mp the gulch to
the point of destination. One couple
started in a buggy, loaded with commits
saTies. The commissaries and buggy
road both gave out at q dis-
lance of FIVE miles from the city, and
rom this point the various fortunes of
the eqGestrlans were displayed TOO COM
lcally TO admit of adequate description.
N the distance of few miles travel
:hey became separated into parties of
Two, three and FIVE, some of which failed
20 reach the mountain others, discour-
aged when the ascent was half made,
and fearful that night would overtake
them, returned disappointed to town.
Five of the number carried out the de-
sign after traversing an hundred break
neck precipices, countless gullies, and
experiencing two or three rights from
bears, deer and other wild animals. On
-heir return they did not reach the base
oi Baldie until the twilight shadows
Lad heightened into darkness, com
pletely obscuring the landscape, and
what was more important to our ex>
cursionists, the road itself But the la
dies did not lack courage. nor need they
-Inder the experienced guidance of three
such old mountaineers as Gov. Tufts, MAJ
shal Howie and Mr. Roys. They returned
safely TO their homes at about half past
nine greatly to the relief of their families,
VINO had began 10 think that they had
met with disaster on the expedition I
Our friend Clampist, one of the liveliest
and most agreeable gentlemen of the
expedition, on returning from Baldie,
becoming separated from the company |
and mistaking the waters of the Madi- |
son for those os the Stinkingwater, was |
entAngled in the mountains, and being |
uvertaken by darkness spent the night |
as comfortably as could be expected on
cne of the spurs of Baldie, where his |
slumbers were lulled by the scream of |
the cayote and the melancholy bark of |
the wolf he made his appearance this |
morning none the worse for ex posure /
and all the more Jolly because of his 4
safe delivery from a somewhat disagree
able experience. Thereupon the old \
mountaineers of Virginia Immediately \
assem- bleG and voted him first class
mountaineer, and presented him with a |
pass" giving him the liberty OF Mon
tEna and her mountains.
Those of the excursionists who reached \
the summit of Baldie are full of rapture
at tie scene which there met their
gaze. The eye commanded a circumfer-
ence bounded by lofty mountains of more
than 800 miles; il first strikes the beauti-
tal range called Ruby mountains, which
from the peculiar line of the rocks of
which they are composed, and the pine
forests covering them from base TO sam
NIT, present in the sunshine all the va
Tied hues of the Balas rIby-hence they
take their name. This range. though
small. is-rery grotesque and beautiful,
and the pilgrim who leaves Montana
tor the States is first reminded on his
return of his near approach to Virginia
by these beautiful landmarks. Follows
ing the course of the Bannack noun
taius on the right, il took in the beauti-
fnl valleys of the Stinkingwater, Beaver
Head Black Tail, the indentations occu-
pied by the towns of A-genta and Ban
mack, and finally rested upon the lofty
peaks OF the Salmon River range in Ida
no, which were but family defined upon
the horizon. Turning TO the left and
with the lofty plateau of
Table mountain. il traced the ranges of
Bouldel and Prickly Pear, resting
az last npon the high mountains
which enclose the metropolis
Thence and still 81 the right. commenc-
ing with Bears Tooth. il crossed along
The range of the Rocky Mountains
proper. embracing in its vision the Mis-
sonri, jefferson. Madison and Gallatin
-ivers. From the junction of the three
rivers IL took in the entire sweep of the