The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-01
Above Lake Cushman.

cIuhheuG lOr the purpose Oh eApioTlnS
! the unknown businesses of the Olym-
pic range, and making complete re-
port on the geology, botany, zoology,
ornithology, ETC., of the surrounding
country. The party, commanded by
Lieutenant J. p. ONeil of the Four
teenth infantry, consists of a geol-
ogist, mineralogist, botanist, natural
ist, photographer, guide, who is also
the Press correspondent, three SER
geants, six privates and a packer. The
personnel of the party together with
an account of the expedition up TO
July 2, has been published, and being
known to the public, will not bear rep
clifton. On the morning of July 2
the steamer bearing our explorers
stopped at the mouth of the Lille
waup creek, where they were told that
was the beginning Of the trail to Lake
Cushman.
Too much cannot be said in censure
of tins statement. In the first place
The people there knew perfectly well
that the proper trail ran from the
fourishing little townsite of Hoods
port-four miles to the southwark
shorter than the Lillewaup by some
six miles-and in perfect condition
both as to the grade and the absence
of 10 :, and in the second place they
likewise knew that on account of bog
holes, or morasses, and precipitous in
clines the Lillewaup trail was neither
E., r.. - 4
of this wilful mis-statement the ex-
petition has been delayed ut least
three days; one of the mules was hurt
falling down the trail and several
were almost lost in some of the
swamps on the route.
The lieutenant and scientists arrived
at the lake and made camp, one on
Mr. Windhotfer's ranch on the west
shore.
Lake Cushman. paradise for the
followers Of Isaac Walton, is one OF
the most beautiful spots in this glori-
Gus land of ours, nestled among the
foothills of the Olympic range at Il
height of 400 feet above the sea, with
the rocky crags and snow-peaks hang
ing it and over it and rejecting
themselves in It's placid BOSOM The
SkOkOmish river, forming both outlet
and inlet, runs through valley of the
most fertile agricultural land and
covered with forests of gigantic fiji
timber. The lake itself is a mile and
one-half in length by half q mile in
breadth, being Of an almost perfect
oval shape and abounds in TWO spec.
les of brook trout, which grow to a
gigantic size, the redspotted variety
running as high rs fifteen pounds.
The view from the east bank is
grandly beautiful, the mountains ris
ing on every side, abruptly from the
margin of the lake almost to the line
of perpetual snow The lake was
crossed on a raft belonging to Mr.
Windhutfer, who has Il ranch on the
west bank, and the party partook of 4
plentiful and very welcome meal at his
house. After short rest camp was
pitched and every person busted him
self in getting things in shape. The
next day being the Fourth of July
no move was made and the day wa
spent in fishing in the lake. Professor
Henderson distinguished himself by
catch of nearly 100.
The trail from the lake runs up thu
south bank the river for some four
miles to the famous copper deposits
and from there all signs of civilization
cease; the valley being succession o
fine bottoms and precipitous noun
tain sides, which in places approach
the grandeur of Canyon.
Camp two is some two miles above
the mining camp of the Mason Count,
Mining and Development company
and about six above the lake-al
though the trail has been cut SOM
two miles further, portion of it owe
!. cliffs and gulches which had to b
bridged, the pack train now being en-
gagged in bringing the remainder of tn
supplies to Camp two.
On July 6 Colonel N. E. Sinslev, tn
geologist, and F. ]. Church. his assist
ant, and who also serves the Press IA
correspondent. were sent by the com
OlhSCl tutdlCC We'll
toward the Grand divide. The cours
led up the river bottom for some fiv
miles, naught of interest being see,
until an impossible canyon WA
reached, the water rushing forth be
tween two perpendicular cliffs at leas
100 feet in height Our travellers the
breasted the side Of the mountain OF
the left, following the well-heaten ell
trails where practicable, and ascend
] Ing the ridge to Il height of 100 fee
above the lake, or 1920 feet above tn
: sea. according to the barometer.s
- Last September party OF six fol
lowed the river to its source, or rathe
thought they did, but our mineralogist
proved them wrong, for it Was simpl
"a small fork of the river that the
sNiollowed up, the m ain stream fowins
III from the northwest through a canyon
81 inexpressibly grand. Black perpen
s dicular rocks. dripping with moistur
s and covered with MOSES and fern, ris
ON every side, while far, far beneath
the river roars, its waters at one tim,
as blue as the sky above, and the
anon tossed about the rocks in sheet
= of foam as white as tn,
driven snow. The explorers crosse
the smaller fork on a small and slim
perry foot log, skirted the mountai
and went up the main river, bein,
forced to keep at a high altitude o.
account OF the inaccessible canyo,
beneath. After proceeding constantl
upward and onward for a distance q
three miles, passing through forests O
fir and hemlock, with yew trees an,
white pine scattered here and there.
descent was ordered, and down the,