Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-08-01
That Fishing Party.

names puDllSned last week left BOZemal
Monday noon, July 22d, going on wheel
to the summit of Trail mountain, where TIN
provisions and camp equippage were pack
ed on cayrse. borrowed for the occasion
The party mounted and forward march
started the cavalcade on the wrong trail
which took the best part Of two hours t.
get out of. or through the net work O
fallen timber, and on the right trail. Here
number of cinnamon bear were seen
From this point no difficulty is experienced
in following the trail, but travel is neces
sarily slow on account of the steep grades
to be assembled and descended. Beautiful
wild flowers are everywhere abundant and
some OF the scenery is magnificent. Found
several patches of ripe strawberries. and
of course passed them by. At 10 O'Clock
p. M, camped in the basin about one mile
above Mystic Lake Party all supposed
to be sick from the amount of hard tack,
etc. consumed.
Tuesday morning, marched down to the
lake. SwitZler and Smith, on their horses
had little 'bucking'' performance in
which the horses came off second best, ex-
cept Switzler, who tried to hold his horse
down with one thumb. Result-thumb
dislocated.
Camped on the side of lake. Pleasant
location. Pine feather beds, tents and
''aisy" times. All went fishing-had SPLEEN
did success. Twenty-four large tish-.just
enough for dinner. Captain Smith mot
john and Switzler, Assisted by Messrs.
Water and Jockey, built raft which was
launched after supper. Had rain storm in
the afternoon. Found 'hoppers scarce.
Wednesday morning very pleasant. All
hands fishing, and eating up the supply of
provisions. All complain that they have
lost their own and found some other appe-
tite. One rule of camp is that every fellow
does as he pleases. which rule is strictly
Obeyed. Fish continue to bite as though
they haG not been fed for some time Flies
troublesome Just before storm. 'Skeeters
scarce. Plenty of good grass tor stock.
Water rery wet. A great many wafer
snakes, and no snake bite medic ne in
camp. So far. all pleasant and happy.
Don't care whether school keeps or not. so
long as the fish bite. In the afternoon
Jockey and SwitZler went bear hunting,
prospecting for quartz, and to discover
oJher lakes. Found too much bear-quartz
find not yet reported. Discovered sew
eral beautiful lakes. which were named in
honor of the different members Of the par
ty. Lake Syi:Zler WAS evidently got up
for the use Of excursiOnists. while Isaac
Walton would have camped right by Lake
Jockey had he been there.
When about three miles from camp in
The mountains they were overtaken by a
terrific rain storm accompanied by thunder
and lightning. They found that it is
idea that one can keep dry by
stayi z urder one tree until it gets wet
then going 10 another, and so on. When
the boys returned to camp, though thor
Dughly soaked, they claimed to be gerry dry.
Continued to rain most Of the afternoon
and night. Tents were found to be great
Thursday morning again pleasant. The
horses were saddled, when ladies and all
paid visit to lakes Switzler and Bellgate,
ibout a mile southeast from camp; had a
inc view Of the canyon with its falls and
yorges below Mystic Lake, and passed
through acres of the most beautiful wild
lowers. Spruce gum abundant and freely
used on the trip. Returned to camp,
:aught fish until noon, when tie fish were
carefully packed and sailed for home use.
Broke camp and prepared for the return
rip which was accomplished in five hours
without accident.
The result of the trip was about $50 lbs.
If fine trout-strawberries enough to eat
most enjoyable time throughout, all wish
ng that they could stay longer, and are de-
ermined to go again.
Mystic Lake is about fourteen miles
southeast from Bozeman; oDe-fourth mile
vide, one-half mile long, grayelly beach,
'ery deep in center of lake, is fed by noun
ain streams-the outlet is BOZem,,n creek.
)nc-half the route can be travelled with
wagons, balance horseback, over a fair
rail. 1t is certainly pleasant visit and
convenient for the BOZeman people, and
will doubtless be visited by many OF our
,eOple during the summer and fall.