Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-22
BEAR VALLEY.
In the San BernardinO
Mountains.
| GOOD VACATION RESORT.
How the Trip May Be Made-An
Interesting Ride on
BurrO Back.

EQ6 WOIkCu publAOSp Vi PASAO1pASAot
man Of the city decides that If he is 60
ing to take vacation and recuperate for
the labors Of the year, he had better be
about it. Having settled what are to a
large majority the two most difficult
problems, those of time and money, he
tackles the question of where to go, In
district like Southern California, where
there are always within sight high noun
tains, heavily,wooded and threaded with
caf1on streams, with stormless ocean
near at hand, and climate as reliable
as the movements of the heavenly bodies,
it would appear that the only psrplexity
with which one would meet would be
that arising from an embarrassment of
riches.
While the candidate for vacation is
making his preparations for the trip,
digging up fish-hooks in the nail box,
and shaking the spiders out of last years
boots, he discusses with his friends,
whom he apprises of his wish to get
away, the question of where he will find
the most sport at the least cost and in
convenience. At such a time he will
read with no small degree of interest an
article like this, which proposes to de-
scribe a trip into the mountains over q
route that has not become commonplace
by too great popularity, where one can
be sure of good time at no great ex-
penso.
Everybody who lives in San Ber-
pardino county knows that somewhere
high UP in the mountains there is body
of water known as Bear Lake, a large
artificial reservoir held in by q small
stone dam, one of the most remarkable
pieces of engineering in the State. Many
thousand acres of the best land in the
county, that in the vicinity of Red
lands, is almost wholly dependent upon
this lake for the water which has
redeemed it from parched desert. Thus
it happens very naturally that the lake
has become great point Of interest to the
people of this flourishing country, and is
visited by thousands of them annually.
Formerly it was necessary that those
who made their way hither should go
over from the desert by wagon and camp
out in the valley. Since the erection of
Q hotel near the shore of the lake, and
the great improvement of the trail from
Redlande, the place has become more
practicable as summer resort. 1t was
only during the last and the present
season, however, that people from Los
Angeles have in any numbers made
their way into this beautiful region.
The trip is long and in some respects
a difficult one; while it scarcely contains
an element of Inconvenience to q strong
man, it can hardly be recommended to
invalids or timid ladies. Nevertheless q
great many of both the latter classes
make the trip. There is absolutely no
danger to be spprehended to anyone
who rides one of the animals provided
by those who make business of taking
passengers over the trail. They are
trained to the work, know every inch OF
the way and are seemingly incapable of
making false step. Anyone who takes
it into his head, however, to ride skit-
tish horse and go by himself. would do
well to patronize some one of the life in
surance companies whose advertisements
will be found in the columns of this
paper.
There is a train which leaves Los An
geles on the California Central route
early in the morning and gets into Red
lands at O'Clock. Regularly on Mon.
days and Thursdays, Mr.. Reeves, the
Gveryman, drives down to the depot
with comfortable coach, in which the
first stage of the journey is made. These
are the regular days for burro trains up
into the mountains, but party of three
or four can always arrange to have the
coach meet them at the depot, and can
secure transportation into the mountains
any day in the week. The coach goes
either eight miles to Roberts or eleven
miles to Thurman's, which ever
the passengers desire. 1t is a.
pleasant ride through beautiful
and picturesque country. Roberts
place, where the parties sometimes stop
and take burros, is just at the opening of
Mill Creek canon. If one prefers to
stick to the coach three miles further
into the canon, he will find the ride en-
joysble, although the road is rather
rough, frequently crossing deep, roar
ing stream.
At Thurman's place the travellers eat
dinner and take to the burros, or
mules, or horses, whichever of the
three are provided. Three men make a
regular business of taking parties over
the mountainE-Koberts, Thurman and |
Jackson. They are all responsible men,
who are very considerate of the comfort |
of those in their care, and are especially |
attentive to ladies who are inclined to be |
nervous in some places on the trail. |
Will Roberts, who makes the regular |
Monday and Thursday trips, has drove |
of burros which can be easily induced to |
move with club, and which are expert
in the business of walking on the edge OF
a precipice without falling over.
The second stage of the trip is from
Thurman's to Lewis and it takes from
four to five hours. The train threads
along the canon for some distance, and
then begins to ascend the mountain,
An altitude of 6 1000 feet is reached aud
then the descent is made into the Santa
Ana cafion. The distance from Thur
mans to Lewis is variousIy estimated
from ten to twelve miles. 1t is a ride
which for beautiful scenery can hardly
be surpassed in Southern California.
At Lewis during the summer there is
usually quite a settlement of campers.
In pretty grove of elders and oaks be-
tween the mountains and the Santa Ana
river, is cluster of picturesque cabins
which form the hostelry of Lewis and
Townsend. One is sure of good sup
per, an entertaining host and bed
where he is lulled to sleep with the
sound of a mountain torrent dashing over
he stones. The location is 80 perfect and
The surrounding conditions are in every
way 30 agreeable that manyof the travellers
n these mountains care to 60 no farther,
Ind tarry here like lotus eaters until the
arge calendar, which Lewis has thought .