The morning call., 1892-08-25
THE DEVILS BACKBONE.
Ascent of Scott Mountain by
a Survey Party.
LADYBUGS. DEER AND BEARS.
4 Wonderful Waterfall in Trinity County.
Scenery That Almost Rivals That Of
Yosemite Valley.

Frank Edmonds OF the Coast and Geodetic
Survey returned yesterday from remark
ably interestin trip TO the summit of Scott
Mountain in Trinity County. He left this
city on August last in company with P.
johnson and B. Won KaTger, also Of the
Geodetie Survey. His business was TO es-
tablish heliotrope station on Mount Scott
in connection with the triangulation survey
now being made of that country.
The journey was made through a wild
and picturesque region which is little known
but which is full Of delight for the lover of
scenic glory and tor the sportsman in search
of game of ali kinds. The party after reach
ing Redding took the stage to Centerville on
Trinity River. Here at place called Stod-
dard's ranch they engaged J. r. Stoddard
as guide and secured q pack team of eight
Indian ponies.
COFFEE CREEK AND GRIZZLY GULCH.
Their subsequent route carried them up
Coffee Greek to Grizzly Guleh, thence up
Salmon Creek to the headwaters in the
mountains, q region of almost peVpetua al
snow. The distance travelled was almost
100 miles They reached, after quite
perilous ascent, the summit Of Scott Noun
tain on the morning of August 10. Here
the heliotTOpe was set at o'clock in the
morning. AT 4 O'Clock that day they secured
an answering fash from Captain Dickens,
whoha charge of the ianguation woIk and
is stationed on Lass Peak, 50 miles from
Scott Mountain.
Mr.. Edmonds gives an interesting account
OF the magnificent scenery to be had during
the climb To the summit of Scott Mountain,
the altitude of which is 900 feet above the
level OF the sea.
When within 5000 feet OF the summit be
found waterfall which rlvaled in beauty,
though not in magnitude some of the most
Qd in thp aSn itn Nlll nv
He approached it by rocky canyon, in
closed on three sides by almost perpendicu-
lar walls 5000 feet high.
FED BY A LAKE.
Upon gaining the source of its supply he
found that ii was fed by a lake half mile
In diameter. The water drops over a per-
pendieular wall 200 feet in depth, and then
forms a second basin, flowing out of
this basin In rapids for considerable dis
tance. and then takes another leap of 500
feet into Grizzly Greek.
Mr. Edwards found the top OF the
mountain swarming with ladybugs. He
says he never saw so many before, and was
surprised TO find the red bugs at such an
elevation. The mountain was full of deer,
and they allowed the party TO get quite
close to them before they seampered away.
Bears also were often encountered, and on
one occasion Mr.. Edwards mIstook big
grizzly for one Of his assistants. He hailed
him several times through the dense chap
nIEdl, anu WAS approaching MIN, WneQ the
grizzly reared his head and growled in such
all ominous tone that Mr.. Edwards at once
perceived his mistake and fed back down
the trail as fast as his legs could carry him.
The local name of Scott Mountain is the
Devils Backbone, bat il is on the maps by
its true name.
Mr.. Edwards took 55 photographs of the
region through which he traYee and he
believes his the first white party that has
ever climbed TO the summit of Scott
Mountain.