Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-12-13


when lie sees masses of forest trees that
4 have fe II in such promiscuous manner
as TO almost defy the progress of q Pc
destrian, and his acutest search fail to
discover sign that man was ever there
before. He breathes out "Wondertul
country--a hundred years Of life is too
short 10 prospect IT," When person
traverses a country for over 200 miles.
winding and twisting here and there 10
find a passage through the down and
standing timber. and with all of his e.
fort OH ~ makes an Insignificant distance
he wonders If there are enough uses in
all this vast nation TO exhaust all this
timber lies enough to renew every
rallroa in the country yearly. yellow
pine enough TO roof in the nation If
sawed into lumber. He wonders that
they DIP not run a railroad here for the
ties lOne. There is always wonder
somewhere to come ont lie even won
ders llat there are not people scattered
through these mGuntains getting rich
gather ing the unknown thousands Of
bushels of luscious big blue buckle ber-
ries, and sending them to market. Never
before in my life did see huckeberri,s
grow sp luxuri0usly, and in every pla, g
aud direction, as | saw on this trip. The
yield and acreage was truly wonderful.
| The route that we took between Elk
city al d Shoup was for the greater part
oi the way, new one, never before
having been travelled except by very
few men. Those who know anything OF
it call the "John Grant" trail. 1t does
not strike the old Nez Perez or Elk city
trail fl pm Bitter Il DOT until within three
miles Of Crooked creek. From inquiry
have reason to believe it is far better
trail across the mountains than the Bit.
ter Rpot. from the fact that it keeps
along, or close to the divide that sepa
rates the waters of the Salmon aud ihe
Clearwater rivers, and avoids the deep
gorges and steep mountains that must
be encountered on the Nez Perez trail.
besides being route that furnishes
plenty of good camping places for horses
with an abundance of grass and water
always c,ose at hand.
To describe the route NAV interest
some and benefit others. if they have To-
cross the mountains before the r.ilro, d
is bu It down Salmon river. Starting
from Shoup-or NJ neral hll is all tn.
same you take the Kentuck rual from
the nj IL to the nine, and follow it to it,
end on Little Sheepeater. Get on In.
SUNNI i of the divide between Bouldei
aud the salmon. and follow that until
small stream is encountered rul-
ming s ou,h, called Horse Fly" Til, II
camp and draw long breath, for from
this on all The skill of genuine noun
taineer will be required, and if you have
none OF this 20 back, or get some one
that has to guide you. Trail there is
none, though yon may find bazed
tree o bee in mile or so. From this
point on lIor,efly strike for the main
fork Of Owl creek above the CANYON OF
that q rean by heading of the east fork.
N'S'O WIZ oo louuu II ulUl tfall tnat
goes up Owl creek for couple OF miles.
where point is taken that will direct
youi 'nrse to the divide In ascendin.
e ridge your at ention II be Il. tacted
by considerable work done on mine
to your left. You are now about tw Give
miles from Shoup. Looking north yen
will see IA tall, barren sombre looking
peak. called Blue Nose A short dis
lance after you reach the divide You
will dome into the trail from Mineral
HUI and the mouth of Hughes creek,
north fork. AT Horse creek are several
cabins. and you will know without be-
ing told, that you are IN the midst of a
number of mines-!arge, strong veins of
argent ferrous lead ores that will ere
long create buzz of lif. on Horse creek
FIVE miles down you come TO the ~
per hot spring. At the fork you turn t #,
the right hand stream and follow a very
fair trail to the main divide between the /
Salmon and Bitter Root waters. Here is
tree blazed on fonr sides. No trail will /
be found hereab )uts. Again / tell you
TO pas in review your skill for noun
taineering for some eighty miles in "A
direction you must strike
the n pz Perez trail. There is no beaten
trail; now and then you find blaze, bur
you DO not know who made it or foI
what purpose. have been in the moul-
iains 43 Years, but had the conceit ia
ken opt OF me on this street h. a
After leaving the blaZ.d tree YOU turn
westerly and follow the divide unit von
reach an Indian los pen. Our next camp
was on Horse creek again, Here YOU 20
mp tao stream ami cross the monutaln-
at is Ia al over the WORST part OF the
whole route. len miles from this poin,
you will arrive on the WA ers Of Sanaw
creek. III re, near the summit viii be
found meadows and comparatively Il It
county with numerous little lakes. Fri
To-" int on AROUND the summit until the
heads of several tributaries of Soraw
;reek are passed. you will arrive at thai
point which will pnzz' any one excel
hs m oat expert to tell which way to
ook ID pick out the divide. The timber