The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-06-30
M PUra Canyon.
GRAND sights sases.rIs.saa by Caii.
fOrnS1 TouFfxfS.

Grand sights R..vea Aess-sSs-Ad by Cali.
fOrnSl Tourists.
Considering the wonderful beauty of the
scenery along Pnta Canyon it is indeed sur
prising that so little is known of it to the
outside world. The tourist and sightseer
have only to step aside from the beaten path
to catch glimpse of this picturesque local.
ity, and yet there are few visitors. About
three miles west of Winters the Berryessa
road enters the canyon. At this point the
scenery is tame enough, but there is
wealth of rustic beauty in the landscape.
The right bank, into the side of which the
road Is cut, rises abruptly above broad
stream known as Puta Creek, which has its
head near Mount ST. Helena and its mouth
at the Sacramento River. Beyond the clear
running water and its willow fringed mar
gin lies stretch of open valley land. Here
| one sees great patches of red soil and long
rows of peach and apricot trees, thrifty
grape vines and rich wheat fields, with
grain reaching nearly as high rs the top Of
the fence. A few miles further on, follow
ing up the crooks and turns of the canyon
AS it grows narrower and the scene becomes
wilder, one stands at length on rocky sum-
init overlooking a long, deep lake, whose
waters reflect the confgurations and colors
of the steep banks. MASSES of sandstone,
water worn and gray, are heaped up ON all
sides, and the glare of the sun upon their
rough sides dazzles the eyes. 0verhangine
the roadway for considerable distance,
huge powders, half embedded in the earth
and apparently just ready to fall, lend On
air Of Incorporating severity to the scene,
and the traveller experiences sense of
danger.
Approaching the Giants stairway, about
eigh; miles from Winters, the canyon Is
seen TO be still more contracted in width.
There is sharp ascent in the road, O broad
turn, and one comes in full view of rug
ged height marked by such peculiar natur-
Il features and withal SO majestic in outline
as to fix the eye in admiration. Tho Giants
stairway Is series of irregularly terraced
rocks, rising from the bed of the canyon k
the height of about one thousand feet.
There are six stairways y in all, and the
brown sandstone, of which they are CON-
posed, varies in thickness from one to eight
feet. The side, of the terraces stand ont
boldly from tie mountain side, protruding
OF least fifteen feet all the way down from
the summ,t. Each line of rock extends
straight from summit to base, and the stair
ways stand about fifty feet apart This
wonderful formation is on the south side of
the canyon. The opposite bank Is much
lower, and although peculiarly marked II
presents no such attractive features as that
of the mountain at the south, but at the
same time 1t affords contrast which en-
hances the scenic value of the Giants Stair
way. To the cool brown of the rocks that
reach skyward above the waters of the Puta
Is added richness of color from the wild
growth of shrubbery covering the mountain
side, and the harshness Of the outlines of
the mountains face ia softened by the
foliage. Tangled clamps of scrub oak. way.
ing manzanitas and the thin, wiry foliage OF
the "aieger pine spread in patches along
the steep heights. There is every shade OF
green. The colors are highest near the
rocks, where they are given a dark back
ground. The gray green of the digger
pine Is most conspicuous, and the flower
Ing chamisal near the mountain top Is
bright patch of yellow In the picture, which
the sunlight lays with considerable warmth.
Rocks and pines, oaks and manzanitas are
all reflected in the calm water below, and
an unreal height is given to the stairway,
which is at all events high enough without
the mirror effect There are others and per.
haps not less interesting scenes along the
way to Berryessa, but none more command
ing than the stairway.
Fishing In Puta Creek is attended with
very satisfactory results at this season, wheI
the pike and trout snap at the hook with an
ayidity that is in striking contrast with the
languor with which they regard the most
carefully prepared bait during the warmer
months of the year. Some very handsome
fish are taken by night, the fishermen set
ting lines, to each of which are fastened
several largo hooks, across the rifles" In
the morning the lines are hauled In and he
Is very unlucky fisherman who does not
pull ashore half dozen pike weighing from
one to six pounds Us the result of his
"labor." BY far the most general style Of
fishing, however, is that in which giant
powder Cartridges are employed The un.
sportsmanlike custom is in vogue at all
seasons, though not SO extensively followed
when the fish bite readily. When heavy
charge of powder is exploded in the waite,
oil its inhabitants, great and small, In the
vicinity float belly upward on the surface.
1t is shameful abuse of inventive power to
employ it in this manner, and the rigid up
plication of the law would have q most salu
tary effect in preventing The improyerishing
Of our streams by this means.--S San Fran
cisco Chroaicle.