The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-11-04
THE TALBOT LAKES.
Fine Scenery on the Fis,head Reservation.

A correspondent sends us an account Of
his trip to remarkable cluster Of mountain
locked sheets of water, seldom visited by
either white men or Indians, and probably
known to less than dozen of our readers.
The Talbot lakes-so named after their dis
coverer, Mike Talbot, an old '69er-lie
among the mountains forming the eastern
boundary of the Flathead Reservation, and
can be approached In two directions, either
from the headwaters of the Jocko or from
St. IgnatIus Mission. The former course Is
the better Of the two, but either way the
trip must be made on foot on account Of the
fallen timber. Taking the old Indian buff
falo trail from the Agency, which follows
the north bank of lie Jocko, small stretch
of prairie Is reached about six miles above
the bridge. At this point trail branches
off toward the west and passes through
damp, swampy forest for couple Of miles
then ascends the mountain abruptly. Before
reaching the summit of the pass, a sharp
turn is made 10 the right, leaving the trail
and skirting the side of the mountain
through the open timber. Less than mile
In this direction, and the first lake comes
into view. 1t is almost circular, and proba-
bly, mile and half in diameter, with No
visible inlet or outlet. lis banks are fringed
by giant pines whose branches reach far out
over the water; there is no shelving beach to
be found on either side, but the water deep
ems abruptly from the bank. Its crystal wa
ter is ice cold on the hottest day and alive
with trout of enormous dimensions ducks
and geese sport upon its surface in consider
able numbers, and occasionally a pair of
swans may be seen. A few yards further
west, over an inconsiderable ridge, and two
more lakes are found, the larger Of which is
probably two miles long and half a mile
wide. Both are similar in appearance to
that described above, except that tue smaller
one has some hundreds of trees floating on
its surface, driven here and there by the
wind. The basin formed by these lakes ap-
pears to be the winter resort of countless
herds of deer and elk, and near by are berry
patches where bear hunter can at any time
depend upon meeting with his quarry. Leav-
ing the lakes, the trail (or, rather, the di-
rection, for there is no trailD, heads due
west, and there Is no danger of getting lost,
for the mountains tower up on each side,
leaving natural road-bed, In some places
not six feet wide from wall to wall. In this
canon is a singular pool Of black, silent
water. 1t Is but few yards In area, but
apparently of unfathomable depth, and cut
in solid rock, giving one the idea Of an ex-
tinct crater. Entering the forest again, after
passing through this caiion, the direction is
over one continuous network of fallen tim
Der in every stage Of decay the accumulation
of ages. A couple of miles over this, bear
ing slightly to the north, and suddenly
large sheet of water opens almost at ones
feet. This is the Enchanted Lake of In
dian mythology. They have a current su-
perstition that single white swan can be
seen upon this lake at any time, but that 1t
is impossible to wound 1t or approach close
ly, and that II Is the emDodled spirit bI une
of their ancestors. Certain 1t Is that no In
dian now ever visits this lake, although the
existence Of lodge poles proves that they
did at one time. The lake is about four
miles long and two miles wide, with broad,
shallow beach on the south side, but very
deep on the north, where its waves wash
against a lofty spur Of the " main Rockies"
A considerable stream Of water issues from
this lake at the southwest corner, forming
the headwater Of Dry Creek, a tributary Of
Mission Creek, but before reaching the par
ent stream greater part of the water sinks
and takes a subterranean course. BY fol-
lowing the creek down st. Ignatius Mission
can be reached in about ten miles, but the
better plan Is to keep as high up on the hills
as possible, overhanging the right bank, to
avoid the dense brush and fallen timber.
The latter part Of the journey Is in open
prairie. ..... .s. ....