The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1871-10-14
NOTES on the WAY 70 WONDERLAND,

NOTES ON THE WAY 70 WONDERLAND,
-O0-
A Ride q tie Isfesssal Regions.
~ c. c. cLAwSoN.
(Coatinued.J
The West Madison ID certainly very
pretty little river. Heading in the vicinity
1T the Red Rock lakes, It Winds around and
through not high but heavily .imbcrcd
mountains. keeping an casterly course IN.
til It j0ins the main stream some Is miles
from Virginia. Elk, moose. deer. sheep
and antelope feed upon it, green banks Or
Stake their thirst in its pearly waters, secure
from the searching eye If the hunter. The
rocks and bushes also furnish abiding places
for black and cinnamon bear, while grouse
in abundance haunt the woods. I noticed
= g.n,dly number Of The dhny tribe rollick-
ing here and there on the rifles, but they
resisted temptation amazingly. Grasshop:
pers they actually scorned; turued tail to
dies and bugs and even stuck up their
noses at fine large grub took the trouble
to procure from the bark ut dead pine,
for thought these fellows In their isolated
state were only little fastidious. aud
might bit on their dish after q while. A
woodpecker would willingly have ham.
nsered away N hour to possess this same
precious morsei hut these ''specklers" had
evidently laid in their grub" beforehand,
else thought there was some catch" To my
proffered kindness.
There 10 ~ Indian runway through here
ito complete the romance of the picturc),
and stragglers and providers Of the different
tribes occasionally pass to and from the
Yellowstone and Gallatin valleys by the
West Madison trail. If you meet with any
on the river it will most likely be In this
vicinity. slept with my heal tight up
against tree to prevent tomahawking. for
If there is any one thing to he dreaded above
oil others it 10 to have your hair ''Snskcd'
"ff in the midst Of pleasant dreams But
We were not molcsted.
In the morning we pursued our journey
u
four hours travel we came in full view Of
TUE MADISON CANYON.
The stream comes out Of the mountain IN
the East. and after flowing westwardly u
few miles assumes 4 norshward course
This II the ID canyon Of the Msdison-it
having four-the first being 90 miles below.
It is eight to ten miles through this one,
part Of the way the trail being in the water,
OWING u rocks and fallen timier ON the
hanks. after which Il opens out into basin
Of 20 miles in diameter.
For wild canyons and grand scenery, the
Madison River il not equailed by any stream
Of it's s,ze in the mountains. At this p,int.
where the river comes out On the valley, the
mountains of rock run thousands If feet in
the air. and form picturesque sights com
pared with the smooth. tame valley in front.
Hundreds of feet atnve the water is . vast
chas'n IN the rncks. or entrance u cave,
which, Is plainly seen miles away.
The most direct route to the Geyscrs.
Burnt Hole. Fire Hole. and birthstone re.
gions. 10 through this canyon. But those
wishing tn see Henry Lake and the indie
sssihss,sy ts-.ss.s~, s.......yy sv,uDd about.
(which II certainly wor,l, going nut Of the
way few miles 10 sce if any place is). turn
to the right before arriving At the canyon
and keep South ten or twelve miles to the
lake, thence around 70 it's sou',scas. corner.
where gooL trail leads East through re-
markedly low pass into the Madison Basin;
thus missing the canyon and having good
Rad MI the why. Our party being anxious
to stop over Sunday ut Sswtel's, and view
the lake, which is the source OF the North
Snake, we turned into the pass. This il
another wonderful opening in the main
chain of the Rocky Mountains. for which
Montana il % celebrated. II resembles
somewhat the Deer Lodge pass, the noun.
tains dropping down from their airy heights
10 the level Of ! plain. But we are fast
coming into country now where we must
not display surprise u anything We rec or
hear, for the why's and wherefores of the
Wonderland are past finding ont. There
on the left flows . little stream from the
mountains. It meanders this way and that
way-now toward the Snake then toward
the Madison, hesit.ting in it, course which
way to csst IT. mite of waters: whether in
the Atlantic or Pacific. for both 10y claim to
It It finally compromises by dividing, one
branch turning 70 the right the other n the
left Here It y the
ROCKY MOUNTAINS GET OF ON A BENDER.
That high mountain looking down on 10 It
the East side Of the pass y the South point
Of the Horse Shoe Bend. Suddenly the
Rocky Mountains diverge from their natural
courss Of North and South and whirl
quickly to the West, whipping In between
Henry and Red Rock lakes, passing around
BY Pleasant Valley, thence over to the head
Of Horse Prairie and 10 sight Of Lemhi, be-
you'd Bannack and around Big Hole. and
hack East nearly 70 Red Mountain It High.
land. thus making full. 100 miles straight
across, with $50 to 800 miles around. This
bend Il In appearance like horseshoe turn.
Cd up sjdedown, the mountain u each point
representing the 'scorkA" There they stand
like two afun0nd0na tOwePn 1narf1inO the