The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-10-15
A TRIP To Bic MOLE PRAlRlR,
X0TEs BY TIE WAY.

4 VkAF TO BIG 0OLE SRAlBtE,
xoTEs BY TIE WAY.
TALL CLIMB
Was ours next morning when leaving our
pack horse and pack At the foot, we deposi.
ted some dinner and chemicals in our can
tinas, and began the ascent of the lofty
mountain that rises on the main chain he.
tween Warm Spring creek and French gu'ch.
and which Is visible from Deer Lodge rising
in the southeast horizon. We found the -.
cent to bc 50 gradual that we rode without
any difficulty up to the timber line. at au e.
timatcd elevation of 1900 feet shove the
ocean. Here We left our horses. and shoot.
ing . grouse that pecrcd at 10 from the
branches of the last tree q though We were
the first human beings it had eyer scen up
there (and which was undoubtedly the case)
We began the toiIsome ascent Of Tho long
ridge that forms the crest Of the mountain.
After IN cxhausting climb over and around
the jagged, serrated peaks, We finally, at 3
r. H., reached the highest point
IN CLOUD LAND.
The view from II was magnificent, and
amply repaid Us for the ascent. To the north
loomed up Powcll's Peak, the intervening
mountains, which arc really lofty, looking
like ordinary hills from the giddy height At
which We sat. Far to tho northwest VIC
could see tho buildings st the Cable Mines
and the roads leading from it TO tho mills and
town, which were hid Ivy spur Of tho noun.
tains The lake at tho head of Warm spring
creek shone blue and beautiful in its superb
setting Of green pines and yellow grassy
! slopes, while beyond lay the upper valley Of
Flint creek west Of Georgetown, and still
further on tho main valley opposite Philips
burg. To the west the valley of Close creek
was dimIy seen through the haze, while
down, down, almost vertically down, 1000
feet below US on the north side of the peak
were four lakes. three. of considerable size,
and one smaller The bottoms Of tl,cse slope
in for u few yards and then pitch abruptly
down. the water turning TO blush black,
showing that they are Of great depth. In
clctts Of the rocks between Us and the lakec
lie patches of snow that are undoubtedly
eternal. as this is the drycst and wMrmest
year since tho settlement Of the country.
From where VIC sat, looking to the west and
southwest, rise many arI.pointcd peaks Of
nearly insurmountablc naked rock, all with
patches Of old, old, snow, and one about Is
miles to the southwest. overlapping 10 by
many hundred feet, having a snow 6cld on
it Of several hundred yards in extent
A DISAPPOINTMENT.
We had carried water up with Us in can.
teen, and boiling it with burning alcohol, my
disappointment can he imagined when
f',und that the thermometer, one that had
procured expressly for tho occasion, was
worthless. tho mercury rising to 1859 Fab.
when immersed in tho boiling watcr-thus
allowing $50 feet elevation for each degree,
less than 2l2e would only make the height
Of this peak :, ,420 feet, while 1t 10 evidently
more than that above the level Of the plain
! ., its foot, which is itself fully 5000 fee,
| above tile water. Judging from the relative
height OF PowclI's Peak. on which water
loilesi ut 1856 :, II should lxil here st shout
lou US lUVo OUC - OUJCy UCvSbOS UVssSssCO
feet the highest II is cG,mpOsed of sycnite
and gran t., with dykes Of fellspathic white
granite cutting across frum north to south.
II Is much shattered on the surface and dips
to the south, the northern face being almost
perpendicular.
Time flies fast when pcrchcd up above
| among the clouds with ALI tho world before
you where 10 choose" and finding VIC had
nO time to tOsc If We would descend ere night
U'criOOk us, VIC fired few shots down into
the lakes by way Of bidding them . long
adicu; the distance being SO grat, however,
that We could not sec the balls strike the
CLASSY surface Of the waters. $50
On our way tMck We psssed over . large
bank Of snow lying on the south side Of the
peak: In the very cyc of the s"n, which
warm summer. Piling up some rOcks ns
show that We were the first to ASCEND this
mountain. We turned and walked, slid and
| tumblctl. down TO our horkee. feeling very
weak In the knees when We got there. found
that my shoes were hopeless wreck. and
| that divers boots were battered worse than
our ironclads before Fort Fisher.
! NEXT MORNING
We were awakened - but hold. Gentle
reader, were you ever awakened out of Slum.
ber and pleasing dreams by the dclicioua
music Of first.class screnxde, and feeling
doubtful for the irrt five minutes whethc1
you wcrc IN heaven Or burdy.guny II
SO you can realize Aov osr JSel;Hgs Ist On
finding sluicc head of water gently stealing
along our backbonce, ana swokc to lind the
rain, the gentle, cussed rain, pouring down,
the firc out. the blankets wet, and day just
dxwning. Fortunately, at no great distance
WAS dIminutivc cabin, inhabited OF old by
murderrry Yes, murdcrcrs of the grandoId
giant pines here sacrificed 10 satisfy the In.
sstiabls nav of Brundys saw miIl lnto
this We .emigmted and Remained, snug q
bugs In . rug, until next day noon.
... FRENCH 0ULCH ,,g .. ...
Was our next objective point. rcsched It u
due time. 1sillyA said Il We would lhy ove,
till next day No would accompsny usA
couldn't resist the inducement-hid OVER
met an oil and valued fTisnd whom hadn1
seen for years, Tom. c.. BY psme-J1l
nc.ting affecting in the extreme invited ~
u come and bunk With him and Frank Pre-.
monte hogs bshind the corral - long .
sseid IN t0wn-s1cussd myself o. Sc9sD ot
being vcly rccs'lcss Of pigiis s-afrsjd ct dis.
turoing the hogs, eli" Hl'1'Rf'7'h7.f r''o7'
OFF FOR BIG HOLE PRAIRaB s"i4mH
~ A. IL.