The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-04
In QUILLAYUTE WALES
A Summer Excursion Over the
Olympic Mountains.
SKETCHES OF A NEW ARCADIA.
One OF the Fertile and Promising Sec-
tions of the Northwest-Descrip-
tion of the Valley.

uSCs cOUHO ne dCCOuuAS 0l
the large number of elk, deer and bear en-
countered by these parties were enough to
fire the soul OF q sportsman, and enough
was said about the existence of minerals
in the Puget sound Alps TO warrant a pros
pecting trip among them. Moreover, peo-
pie do not generally realize the fact that
the only considerable body of arabic gov
eminent land subject to entry by settlers
in the United States is now confined to
Northwestern Washington. and the disap-
pointed hunter or prospector might still
make his trip profitable one by taking up
claim.
Moved by the three considerations men,
toned above, the writer, in company with
friend, resolved to pay the much-sxplored
region visit. The route outlined was as
follows: From Pert Townsend to Pysht
by steamer thence across the northern
part OF the Olympic range, into the Quill
layute valley. passing southwark through
the valley to Lapush, on the seaShore, and
thence up the Quillayute river into the
mountains.
Settlers have been taking up claims in
the Qnillayute valley for the past eighteen
years, and it was natural to expect that old
residents of Port Townsend would know
something about the country. but inquiry
proved that in this we were mistaken, and
we were unable TO obtain much service
able information respecting our proposed
route.
On July 10Th we boarded the steamer for
Pysht. There were about thirty passen-
gers on board, most of whom we learned
during the day were either land-hunters or
settlers returning to their claims. The
vessel made brief stoppages at Port Ange-
les and Port Crescent to take on and dis
charge freight and passengers.
We reached Pysht, situated at the mouth
of the Pysht river, about O'Clock in the
evening. and found it a rather picturesque
little place, consisting of two houses in
habited by white people, half mile apart,
and three or four Indian cabins, the latter
situated under the lee of Pillar point, a
bold headland which shelters the little VII
lage somewhat from the force of the winds.
An antiquated canoe and whaleboat, both
clumsily handled. put out from shore, the
latter receiving the freight and the former
the passengers.
The Pysht river valley is surveyed, and
contains some of the finest timber and rich
bottoms in the country, most of the bottom
land being easily cleared. There are, how
ever, but about half dozen settlers in the
valley, the bulk of the land being owned by
one man. whose policy it seems to be to let
it lie idle for the present. If the fertile
acres OF this valley were divided up be-
tween actual settlers, vast quantities of
produce would be raised yearly. and Pysht
would become a town of considerable i'm
portance as logging center and shipping
point. Grouse and rabbits abound in the
brush along the river. and deer tracks are
plentiful on the trail.
A short distance from camp the trail
again crossed the river. which crossing We
made without mishap or another log
About two miles more of travelling brought
us TO the end of the valley, and the ascent
into the mountains commenced.
BEAVER LAKE.
Having reached the summit we began to
descend, and reaching a small mountain
brook, and unstrapping our packs, cooked
dinner and threw ourselves on the ground
for a much-needed rest. Taking up the
trail again we trudged on. and after steep
climb over the mountain were cheered by
the sight of the Fifteen-mile house, situ-
ated on Beaver lake. This is beautiful
little sheet of water, bounded on one side
by high mountain about 500 feet in
height. The lake has for an outlet Beaver
creek, swift and sparkling mountain
stream, having a beautiful waterfall not far
from the lake. Fine fishing is TO be had in
both lake and creek. Early the next morn
ing we started on our way again. We were
now entering the Qnillayute valley. The
trail forks here, one branch leading over
a high mountain. the other running along.
side the creek. We kept to the latter,
and about 4, O'Clock reached Beaver
a rolling prairie few hundred acres in ex-
tent, where there are two houses, one of
which is store and the other an eating
house. The trail sgain led into the timber.
By pushing ourselves we made Higgins
prairie containing about 200 acres, by
O'Clock. Here is situated another small
lake, which has no visible outlet 1t looks
as though il ought TO contain plenty of
trout, but the folks there informed us that
there we're no fish in il except mongrel
species which would not bite.
FORKS PRAIRIE.
We arrived at Forks prairie ESQ named
from the forking of the Colower at that
point early in the afternoon. The prairie
contains some twenty-five hundred acres,
which was originally covered by dense
growth of fern, much of which is still
standing, in which bands of cattle, sheep
and hogs find excellent pasture. The sur
face OF this land is easily cieal ed, but then
the cultivator's work has only begun. The
roots OF the fern strike deeply into the
ground, necessitating the work OF years to
thoroughly kill them. Nevertheless, pa
sient labor has cleared much OF The prairie.
and fine crops of hay, oats, potatoes,
hops and berries are raised on the
cleared land The farmers, however. have
no inducement to clear more of the land
than is sufficient TO raise produce for the
consumption OF their families, as there is
no practicable way of shipping their pro-
ducts az present AZ a reasonable cost.
Forks prairie is located within the sur
vey and is occupied by fourteen settlers,
and has the advantages of postoffice and
sawmiil. The prairie lis bounded on the
south and east by the mountains, on the
north by the Colower river and on the west
by the Bogochiei. the latter being navigable
for canoes for fifteen or twenty miles from
its mouth. The ground is perfectly level,
and is admirably adapted for a townsite.
A simplicity OF manners prevails that is
truly Arcadian. Robust physiques denote
the heaithfulness of the settlers aud they
take life in a leisurely manner that is
refreshing TO one used to the keen csm-
petition OF the city. We found them
remarkably courteous and obliging TO
strangers, and neighborly among them
selves.
oUILLAYUTE PRAIRIE.
About two miles from the Bogochiel we
came out on Quilayute prairie, consider
ably larger than Forks prairie. and the
Oldest settled district IN the valley. The
first settlers arrived there about twenty
years ago. Like all other prairies in the
valley, the ground is covered with dense
growth OF fern, which in some places Is
ten feet high Considerable gravel IS
found hers, and the soil is not con-
sidered first class, although fair crops
OF hops, potatoes, beans, hay and oats
are raised. Setuers on these prairies
have endeavored 10 raise tobacco, but