Litchfield enquirer., 1870-05-26

feet, we would enter chasm of perpetual winter-where the rays of the sun never enter-whose towering sides. covered with dampness and mould, emitted vapor al- most unbearable. One can hardly believe it possible that such differences can exist in so close proximity. have found lillies even more rare than those cultivated east-growing here wild. within twenty feet of snow some seven feet deep. Such in- stances are not at all uncommon. But to re- turn to our trip. Projecting rocks at last compelled us to cross the river. If you doubt my veracity as regards manner of crossing, or rather, do not doubt it, you can have more faith in me than had in my own eyes. You must remember we are some fourteen miles from the entrance of a canyon hardly passable for mules. the river too deep to ford, and not tray. el enough to warrant the building of 8 bridge. Consequently the first person passing through had to use the nearest available means which was a sugar pine tree, standing some twenty feet from the waters edge; nine feet in diameter, and some 215 feet long, This was felled across the river. and lies some twelve feet from the water below. Over this we walked with our horses and mules; or rather I went across, after which our animals came with slow and measured gait, evincing some r,yet seeming to know their ability to go anywhere. This might be made quite re- spectable bridge by hewing the upper sur- face of the tree. Asyet the bark is only goug- ed in places so as to give the horse some thing of foothold. The nature of the country was the same for some four miles farther when we entered volcanic region, passing along the side of what what was once an active volcano. For some two miles there was not tree, shrub or spear of vegetation, not even dirt to smooth the track of lava. The lava seems to have flowed in sheets over the surface from the mountains above which rear their bold. bare heads hundreds of feet heavenwards, the sides sloping at an angle of about 45 degrees towards the river. The latter has cut it's bed entirely through the volcanic cappings into the cretaceous strata beneath exposing boulders of granite and aurifer- ous slates. As we proceed we find strait fled rocks rising above the.sloping plateau of gray lava, like large houses, or again in- to symmetrical cones, rising from 100 to 200 feet, and scarcely as large as some of the pines in the lower counties. Indeed at distance they look like huge pines depriv- ed of branches.
 RED CLOVER VALLEY
 After leaving this belt we enter & little valley of 2,O00 acres hedged in by mount. aims. This is known as "Red Glover Val- ley' and is owned by two ranchers who spend their summer here. engaged in dairy and stock feeding, generally going below in the winter, as the snow falls here some eight or ten feet on the level. It was now night and too late for camping, consequent we intruded upon the hospitality of MT. B.. I Iretired early so as to be rested for fishing the next day. I was up at early day-break-before the family-found the river some 300 yards distant, baited my hook, and was soon pulling out the trout like fun. A flock of sheep had gathered around me. Presently they started off, scampering towards the house. I thought it strange, looked around, and beheld a large gray wolf eyeing me at distance of fifteen feet. thought several heads better than one, even if the majority were sheeps heads, and followed their example, run- ming faster if possible, leaving my beauti- ful trout behind. On reaching the house, breathless, became the object of ridicule for my fears. was said to be very coward. ly, &c. Yet, unarmed as I was, am sure I should run again under similar circum stances
 
 I was gone five days. fshed some six hours, and caught ITO trout, weighing on an average 114 lbs. apiece, the finest fish I ever saw. The water is clear and cold and it's finny occupants hard and fat. have caught them in "Big Meadows weighing eight pounds, but. s.they seem to be of a different family, in appearance like salmon, and by some called salmon trout Game of every species is found here in great quantities. Wild ducks of the Nal lard species literally covered the river, while the teal were so abundant I could knock them over with my fishing rod. was also annoyed by the otters which abound in this stream, living on trout. They would drive them in every direction as was fishing. It is an entirely harm less animal and easily tanned. The deer came down from the mountains and feed in the valley, mingling with the stock, had nothing but pistol and consequent ly stood no chance of shooting any. The second and third night we camped in hol low tree which had been burned out by previous hunters. We looked our owr game, and had, altogether, very pleasant time