The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-09-19
THE SALMON RIvER-CoNTINUED.

miles from Big KedhSh Lake TO
Stanley Reddish Lake. The outlet
stream of the lake flows into Valley
creek four or five miles up from
the Salmon, and the lake is three
miles up the stream from Valley
creek. The country between these
two lakes is generally level and
prairie-like. The sketch shows a
section of the country on the route,
along the Salmon valley, with the
Sawtooth in the background to the
west. In sight of Valley creek one
branch of the road turns to Stanley
Basin, an old gold placer mining
camp, near the Salmon, and the
other leads up Valley creek, and
from there on out to Cape Horn.
the northern point of the Sawtooth
range. From this latter road, a
wagon trail turns up the lake creek
to the Stanley Lake.
The sketch of Stanley Reddish
Lake is taken from the upper end
and near the inlet. and includes
only a small portion of this very
beautiful and lovely sheet of water
nestled in the bosom of a most
romantic landscape. The scenery
here is fully as grand and impress
i've as that about the other lakes,
and the camping facilities equally
as convenient and pleasant. The
lake is about one-half mile in width
and between one and two miles in
length. From this point to Cape
Horn the country is level as a
prairie, with low mountains on the
east and the majestic Sawtooth, with
it's wonderful peaks, deep gorges
and snow-tipped crests, on the west.
Up at the head Of one of the
frightfully deep and Jagged cuts in
the main Sawtooth range, and IN the
sombre and everlasting shades OF
the lofty granite spires that encircle
it, is lonely little lake known as
Ice Lake. 1t is near an old Indian
trail going out from the Salmon
valley to the Payette Lakes on the
west side of the Sawtooth. 1t was
discovered by a party of prospec.
tors in August, 1879, who were
searching the ribs and canyons ol
the mountains for cropping quartz
veins. 1t is so hemmed In and
walled about by frowning crags and
peaks that the sun, if it peeps in
upon it at all, cannot prevail upon
| it to lay aside its winter garb, ano
it is covered with ice and snow the
summer through. But wild, desc
late and forlorn-looking as is this
particular section of the Sawtooth
it is nevertheless the haunt OF the
snow-white mountain goat that here
tenderly rears its young, beyond
the reach of hound and hunter.
A WORD ABOUT REDDISH.
These are the only redfsh lakes
of note in Idaho, although there
are several others hid away in the
mountains of the North Payette
In the state of Washington mum
Der are known to exist, but not 81
pleasantly and conveniently stu
ated as these of the Sawtooth.
There has always been a diversity
of opinion among mountaineers a.
to the natural home, the habits, etc.
of these very peculiar fish. Som
contend that they remain at the bot
tom of the lakes from late fall t.
early summer, and only make thel
appearance in the spawning season
| Others believe they are only large
river trout that come into the lake
during the summer season; Will
not few are of the opinion tha
thew are an ocean fish that com
like the large salmon to the source
of the large rivers to spawn, yer.
few, however, have taken the pain
to observe their coming or going o
to study their habits while her
farther than to see them and cate
them, regardless whence they com
or whittier they go. !.
The writer, living for years i
sight of the Upper Salmon vale
and Sawtooth mountains, and nay
ing visited the lake regions both
and out of the reddish season, ma
formed an opinion, also, as regard
these particular fish, mainly by OF
servation and by theories consisteI
with the facts at hand. They begl
. to show themselves in the lake
. from the middle to the goth OF Jul
and remain as late as October. b
watching closely they can be see
coming in schools up the laf
creeks out of the river and golr
into the lakes. At this time the
are not bright in color, and mlgl
readily be taken for salmon-tro'
! or silver-salmon; but after arrivir
J in the lakes they gradually chan!
their silver-drab travelling suit +
one of light pink; this is follow'
by one of a dark reddish hue WI,
magenta shade; and by the midd
of August this is merged into 7
: more attractive royal crimso
Down in the deep transparent wate
Of the lake, moving gracefully abo
nk ~