The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-03
In THE YELLOW ST0NE
The Lights and Scenes III Our
National Park.
BEAUTIES OF THE TETON BASIN
Or. Park Distinguishing Himself as q Guide
and Proves a Rival to Kit Carson
Miss Pratt's Pluck.
BEAUTIES OF THE TETON BASIN

UPPER GEYsER BASIN, Yellowstone Park
July "a, 1S90.-[Special correspondence of
TIE HERALD.l-I presume your readers
are generally acquainted with scenes and
incidents connected with the Park, so I
will not base them ON that subject, but
hey are not familiar with the trip across
the mountains. Doctor John r. Park, B,
w. briggs, Jr., Milando Pratt, Miss Viola
Pratt, his daughter, and myself, left Mar
ket Lake on July II and went by convey
ance to
TETON BASIN,
arriving there on the 18th. This is
lovely valley, extending thirty to forty
miles from north to south, and averaging
ten to twenty miles in width. 1t is one of
the best watered valleys in the world. Be
sides the Teton river, which is about the
size Of the Bear river, there are several
large calon streams which can be easily
conveyed by canals to water every acre of
land in the valley. The valley is fast
being settled with farmers and ranchers,
but there is plenty of good land unoccu-
pied, and l think am safe in saying that it
is the best place within the same distance
OF Salt Lake, there is to be found. The
mountains are full of fine timber and the
| streams abound with trout. This beautiful
valley lies directly under those majestic
| mountains known as The Three Tetons.
The peaks loom up to an enormous height
and can be seen within the radius of q
hundred miles.
On the morning of the 18th our entire
party, including Miss Pratt, assembled Teton
canon up to the foot of the Three Tetons.
We did not attempt to climb the peaks, for
II we had had time and inclinations it
would have been impossible, as they are of
solid rock and almost perpendicular. 1t
was extremely difficult to get as far as we
went, for there Is neither road nor trail,
and it was continuation of climbing over
| fallen timber and rocks, working our way
through dense forests of pines and crossing
over immense drifts of snow, but we man
aged to pull through and arrived home late
IN the evening, and Notwithstanding we
were very tired felt well paid with our
days labor.
On the 18th we left the Teton basin with
saddle and pack horses
BOUND FOR THE PARK.
1t was our intention to go by way of
Jackson's lake, but owing to the high waters
we were informed that it would be
impossible for us to ford the
south fork of Snake river, so we were COM
PEELED to come back to Richburg and follow
/ mp the north fork, or Henry's fork of Snake
river, and we have no cause to regret It
for think we passed through some of the
grandest and most picturesque country in
the world. On our third day out we forded
the Snake and travelled in a northeasterly
direction until we reached Warm river "a
tributary of Snake river. We followed
up this stream some twelve or fifteen miles
and camped. This river is literally alive
with trout. AS soon as we camped the
doctor and commenced to throw our flies
to the specified beauties and in a few mo
ments we had enough caught for supper
and breakfast The doctor made the bes
catch of any Of US on the trip; he stood out
IN the river on rock and in ten minutes
caught fifteen fine trout.
Next morning we left this river and
started across the mountains for Henry:
fork. We had not gone far when we lost
the trail, which was very indistinct and bu
little travelled, but after several hours
of most difficult travelling we struck tn,
river, or the brink of the cafIon through
whiel it flows; here we beheld one of thu
grandest sights that you could Imagine
The caflon here is very deep and is com
posed of two walls of lava rock looming III
perpendicularly, in some parts thousand
of feet in height. The river the entire dis
lance runs very rapidly and forms serie
of cascades and rapids. We followed up OF
the brink of the canon for several miles
finally coming to an opening through whic
we could descend to the river. A short dis
tance above where we reached the river or
Il, THE VIOLA FALLS,
and they are among the finest have eve
seen; across the river is a huge wall of Law
rock over one hundred feet high, almost i
shape like horse shoe, and over this wa
the entire river leaps with maddened fury
covering everything for a great dis tanc
around with spray. Above and below til
/ Of feet and those below, which catch TIL
spray, are covered several inches in thicl
!. ness with beautiful green moss varying
color from the palest emerald to the darl
est chrome, while far off in the distanc
the mountains are covered with dens
forests of pine and quakenasp, the Who'll
), scene making one of the grandest and mo,
beautiful pictures that could be imagined
and one that we will not soon forget. Ate
{. dinner we left the river and canon an
r came to large platform Known as Allen
, Highlands. This platform surprised us q
much as anything we have seen on til
whole trip. 1t is as level as any vale
could be aud resembles in appearance
huge park, being covered the entire lengt
with forests and pines and beautiful gree
meadows. What the extent of this par
or platform is l am unable to say, but q
9 travelled over it IL northwesterly diree
o tioE for nearly two whole days before "
!, reached the other side.
On the night of the 22d we camped q
Aliens Highlands. We had now bee
travelling two whole days without the sic
OF trail, and scarcely knew where v
n were and the next morning, to make ma
tiers worse, it commenced raining vel
heavily and we were cnveioped in a den!
:! fog. The most OF our party were in fav,
f of remaining in camp until the stor
;, cleared off, but the doctor valliantly ste
= ped forward and made the wonderful q
nouncement that lie could pilot US throus
Just as well in a storm as in fair weathe
SO we concluded to pack up and vamos
r This is the day on which