Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-02-09
A Grand View.

In going from the Mammoth Hot
Springs to the Falls of the Yellowstone
the tourist must abandon his wagon at
Tower Falls, if he is so equipped, and
pack his outfit for the trail. The distance
for packing, however, is but eighteen
miles, if he only desires to go to the Falls,
but if the lake be one of his objective
points he must prepare for forty miles or
more of packing trip by stocking up his
larder and rolling in all his robes, for
these are the coldest points in the Park,
the altitude being 5000 feet, with the
exceptions of Mount Washburne, whose
head obtrudes over all. On this road to
the Great Falls of the Yellowstone the
principal point of interest are the Tower
Falls, though the whole route is wild and
picturesque, and If the snow is deep on
the divide and on the mountains, as Is the
case at this season, the trail will be beset
with game, and elk will become familiar
sight. Tower Falls are SO called because
of towering mass of stone rising up from
the verge of the preclpice to height of
about 100 feet from the water, where it
breaks over the ledge. These falls are
noted for their simple beauty, falling IN
sohd sheets for 100 feet and sending
showers of spray curling up from the
foaming pool below. The volume of
water is not great, Tower Creek being
small mountain stream, but the water is
as clear .as crystal and as cold as If drawn
from frigid fountain.
The trail from Tower Falls brings the
tourist TO standsull and abruptly on the
brink OF an awful abyss, as 1t leads di-
rectly to the Grand Canyon, INTO the dizzy
depths of which one gazes for the first
time with mingled emotion of awe and
admiration. On the opposite side OF the
stream The walls o. tue canyon rise abrupt
ly for more thau 1900 feet while on this
there is gradual descent half way down
of sliding cinnabar and otEer delIcately
tinted chalky formations broken at inter
walls by towering piRnacles of mineral
rock, which stand out in bold relief
against the brilliant background. These
pinnacles take on many fantastic forms,
Inspiring the delusion that one is looking
down upon the decaying splendOrs OF
ANTIQUE architecture. From the base of
these solemn sentinels, the descent 10 the
water line is as abrupt as from surface to
torrent on the opposite side. Far below
winds the foaming current Of white crest
ed wavelets spread out like silver band.
Although the channel is 100 feet wide, it
appears no larger than trout stream.
Rounding Point Lockout the tourist is
confronted with full view of the falls,
where the whole volume of water breaks
over the rock-ribbed ledge and is riven by
big black boulder in the centre. and
again united rolls majestically down to a
depth of $40 feet, sending up showers OF
spray which glisten in the sunlight like
lusirous gems under gaslight. The view
from this point is one of beWildering beau
iy. The spectacular splendors OF the scene
in the canyon below the falls Is frightened
by the effect of the roaring cataract on the
seases. Ii is the most magnificent scenery
of its class on the continent with the sin
gle exception of the Yosemite. Above the
main falls is another which alone would be
qeat attraction, but is dwarfed into IN
Significance by the lower and larger one
below. Above this, still, is series Of cas-
cades, over which the vast volume of water
from the lake above rushes and breaks into
foam everlasting. These rapids can be
heard Tor miles of still night making
much more noise than the roaring cataract
at the falls. Here is the upper mouth of
the caLyon end the beginning of ten miles
of canyon scenery that pales the Colorado
cany ons into inslgnifcance.