Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-12-07
FROM ATLANTA.
A FORMER HAlLEYITE RETURNS
HOME TO WINTER.
The Trail Between Atlanta and Rocky
Bar-Bald Mountain and Other Nam
Traps on the WayA PcrilOus Route

II. Stevenson, who went to Atlanta
with Major Cavanah, last July, to act
as accountant of the Atlanta Hill Min
ing Company, got back to HALEY this
morning by rail.
He left Atlanta by the grade to
Rocky Bar, but when few miles out
of town, he in company with the mail
carrier, took the Norwegian snowshoe
trail, (the only way out of the country
which skirts the very ridge Of Bald
Mountain. This peak is famed as
the one at whose base Mail Carrier
Hicks, younger brother of Dick
Hicks, of Bellevue, lost his life, he
having been carried about 1000 feet
down the mountain side and buried
beneath all avalanche of snow. To
avoid slides, as much as possible, the
trails are now made on the ridge. This,
being narrow, is very dangerous
route. The snow packs on top and
all around the big powders, until
heavy man can make no impression
whatever upon the slippery crust, not
even by walking on the edges of his
snowshoes. In such trail Indian
snowshoes are of no use, and Norwe-
gian nowshoes little better; yet the
only means of locomotion is on snow
shoes. There is one place where a
persons nerve is severely tried. I'M
imediately on "doubling" the peak Of
Bald Mountain the snowshoer finds
himself as if suspended in mid air.
He is generally walking, slowly and
carefully, on the edges of his SNOW
shoes, his pole resting against lump
of ice or other protruberance. TO the
left Of him is mountain of solid ice;
to the right a sheet of binding white
1900 feet deep. Before him he sees
steep descent OF about 800 feet to
APPOINT which has to be doubled. The
trail is scarcely visible and it is GOV.
cred with ice. Skill cannot avail
mnch in this place, and all man can
do is to stoop on his snowshoes, shut
his eyes, and-trust to luck!
Nor is this the only dangerous place;
further on, about four miles, there is IA
ravine two miles long in which all
travellers are exposed to snowsldes
from its beginning to its end. When
about to enter that defile they also
trust to luck. If going to Atlanta
they must proceed slowly and tread
with great car lest they crack the
crust and thus bring down upon them.
selves a snowy wave that would bury
them fathoms deep. But if going to
Rocky Bar, the passage is swiftly ac-
complished, less than five minutes be-
ing required, as the snowshoers go
with the rapidity of lightning. Bat
even then they are liable to be caught.
Such was the case with Mr.. Lester. a
mail carrier, the first year of the set
Element of Wood River.
He was about halfway up the ra-
vine when cracking sound that filled
him with terror was heard. He at
tempted to turn on his shoes. SO as to
go back to the foot Of the rayinc.
This stratagem is frequently resor.ed
to by expert snowshoers. If about to
be caught by snowslide, they in
stantly wheel down the mountain side,
and KEEP AHEAD OF THE SLIDE until
the bottom is reached, when their i'm
petus carries them out of reach on the
opposite side. But Mr.. Lester could
not turn in time, aud he was found
beneath the avalanche, one of his shoes
still turned toward Atlanta, aud the
other toward Rocky Bar
From Rocky Bar Mr.. Stevenson
came on runners to Cat Creek, about
80 miles, where the regular stages are
run on wheels to Mountain Home.
where connection is made with the
railway for Haley.
Mr.. Stevenson has no defense to
make of the New York management
OF the Last Canoe mine, and cannot
account for their acts. Since Major
Cavanah took charge Of the property,
last July, over $40, 900 worth of bull
lion has been sent to New York, at
an expense not exceeding $4,000.
And this when the mine was taken in