Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-25
INTERESTING CALIFORNIA Lerrea,
A Former Residsnt of This County dives
His Observations Of the Country.


His Observations Of the Country.
CAMPING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CALtrossiA.
July IL, 1885,
Leaving Santa Ana early upon the morn
ing of July llth, company of four drawn
by a couple OF jet black Indian ponies,
journeyed through Anabeim, Fullerton
and Prairie and Brier Cannons, reached the
San Gabriel valley, about four miles west
of Pomona, and arrived at the latter place
about noon. After lunch we surveyed
Pomona. place of between. 5000 and
4, 200 inhabitants, nicely nestled in fertile
fruit valley, and about midway between
San Bernardino and Los Angeles.
About $50 o'clock we started toward
San Antonio canyon in the Sierra Madre
mountains, passing through q choice fruit
section for about four miles. Pomona is
located upon the Southern Pacific railroad,
and directly north of the town, about three
miles, lies the Los Angeles and San Ber-
nsrdino division of the California Central
railroad. After crossing the latter We
turned eastward and so continued until we
reached ClaremoDt, one of the many new
towns laid out along this route during the
year 1887. Here enough lots are laid out
to contain population as large as Spring
field. A large, well finished hotel, unOc-
cupied. and half dozen dwelling houses
are all that are thus far developed Of the once
expected city. From Claremont we grad
ually arose until we reached the mouth Of
the San Antonio canyon, up which we as
cended for distance of about five miles to
temporary store Of supplies for the nu-
merous campers who frequent this favorite
resort.
The lower portion of this canyon is 50
narrow that the bed of the creek forms the
roadway for quite q distance, and farther
up the stream is frequently crossed and
recrossed ere the close Is reached. The
scenery is grand beyond description.
Flowers of various kinds are In abundance,
one variety of which is deserving Of special
attention, namely. the spanish Dagger"
The base of this, from which the main
stem bearing the bloom emerges, Is In form
of miniature century plant, and the main
stem bears striking resemblance to the
portion Of the century plant bearing the
bloom. This portion is thickly studded
with beautiful white or cream-colored
flowers, which gives the whole the appear
ance of q tree in bloom. 1t attains height
of fifteen 10 twenty feet, and Is covered
from base to apex with flowers, and in out
line very much resembles dagger In ap-
pearance.
After spending the night at the store we
continued the ascent Of the canyon for q
distance Of about four miles above the store,
using our ponies to pack our camp outfit
and supplies.
Here, at distance of between eight and
nine miles from civilization, and at an alti-
tude of 4, 500 feet above the sea, we staked
out our temporary claim on the banks Of
the cold, crystal stream called San Antonio
creek, the waters Of which are mostly from
the snow-capped peaks at the summit of
the mountains.
When about to retire we were informed
by some campers, who are well acquainted
with the canyon, that we were located in
the midst of a den of rattlesnakes. Fatigue
strengthened our courage sufficiently to
enable us to sleep soundly in ouI new quar-
tiers, but the next day we moved to q new
location where the surroundings were more
congenial. A trout-fshing expedition was
the chief feature of our first day in camp.
After ascending the stream for sbout mile
our efforts we're rewarded by sixteen good
sized mountain trout, which we heartily
relished and disposed of at one meal.
At half-past O'Clock In the morning of
the fourth day out three of our party start
ed to scale .'Old Baldy," the highest peak
on the mountain, between the ocean and
San Bernardino. The first mileof the trail
is along the creek on the banks Of which
We camped. Leaving the creek, rocky,
steep ridge is scaled and another canyon Is
entered, which is followed until the base of
the mountain proper is reached, upon the
summit Of which, at the point reached by
our trail, number of miners cabins are
located. Here q number of gold mines are
being proftably worked. Hydraulic mining
has been introduced within the past month.
At this season of the year no water Is
found there except what is piped in, while
during the winter months there are from
ten to twenty feet of snow there.
Leaving the mining camp about O'Clock
we began the ascent of Mt. Baldy. The
first half mile is along ridge gradually
rising until the DEVILS Backbone is reached,
where for distance of two miles bench
after bench rises each being from two to
five hundred feet in height and SO steep in
places that they have to be climbed on ''all
fours," and 50 narrow is the trail. that were
one to make amisstep or stumble, he would
go down the mountain sides nearly perpen-
dicularly for distance of from one to three
thousand feet. At 1915, noon, we reached
the monument erected by the government
| surveyors some twelve years ago, at the
top of Old Badly. This monument is over
ten thousand feet above sea level, and
about six miles from our camp. From it,
| with q good telescope. most Of the habita-
bic ,pOrtiOn of southern California Is in
view. Upon q clear day with the natural
eye the foothills and q portion Of the Mo
jave desert to the north present . and
scape closely allied in appearance to pic
lures of the Holy Land. To the south and
west the beautiful valleys Of the San
Gabriel and Santa Ana are seen, with the
ocean and Santa Catalina mountains at a
distance. After having gratiied the eye
we repaired to snow bank
to the north of the peak.
where we ate cur lunch and quenched our
thirst with snow. Eating snow and max
ing snow balls in sunny southern Califor-
mia on the l4th day Of July. Strange, but
| true.
The appropriateness of the name, "Old
Baldy," is not appreciated until one in
spects it from its summit, since not even
moss or any species of vegetation is found
there. Snow and small pebbles OF sand
| stone and quartz rock constitute its surface.
After gathering few specimens as keep
sakes, we began the descent at lis O'Clock
and did not reach our camp until 6:15
O'Clock. Specimen of gold bear
ing quartz were secured and q
cane was found by two Of the crowd
from species of wood called manjannita,
priced because it is a task to find . speci-
mems straight enough to answer the pur-
pose of a can and also because it was from
this species Of wood that the crutch was
made for Juan Canito, the chief shepherd
In Ramona, II. 81. Jackson's famous novel
fact and fiction-based upon southern
California.
After returning from the journey to Mt.
Badly the time was spent sightseeing, fish