The record-union., 1892-07-19
TEE NORTHERN SIERRhS.
GIories Of Nature in the Upper SaCra-
mento Canyon.
Wonders Of the Famous Crater Lake
in klamath County, Oregon
Inspiring Scenes.
Especial Correspondence REcoRD-Ux1oNI

ICDecll lCOlICStDOilGciCC CItENO4Nb-N -NAo->-4
Some one has wisely said, "Know well
the rooms OF thine OWE country before
stepping over the threshold thereof" 10
no one does this apply more than to those
living on the Pacific Slope. None Of us
need go to Europe to see the lofty alps
and the mountain lakes of Switzerland,
when mountains and lakes rivaling those
to be found anywhere in Europe are al
most in our midst.
\ lover of nature has but to board a
north-bound train of the California and
Oregon Railway in order to satisfy his
desire for the grand and beautiful. Your
correspondent formed one Of party
bound on such an errand early in June
last. Riding all night through the Sacra-
mcnlo Valley brought us 10 Redding
about $50 \. n.
\ few brief moments more and we were
travelling along on the west bank OF the
Sacramento River, and as the train sped
along up the canyon all eyes were cen
tercu on the beauties below.
Nothing can be more beautiful tnan the
sparkling waters Of The upper sacramento
dasilng over their rocky bed IN their
eager desire to reach the great ocean.
surely Robert SOutney's "HoW does the
water come at Lodore?" might well ne
applied 10 this sparkling stream.
On, oil we rushed, over bridges and
through tunnels, the river always Dclow
anu the rugged mountains extending far
above us. GhG whistle blew; the train
! drew up to the station, and we had ar
rived at Castle Crags Tavern, our hTSt
stopping place. This hotel, but recently
opened, is situated III one OF the most
! picturesque spots in CalllOrnla.
:. nIagilT "a n OF NJ T. S-lln-
! enwald, OF Del Monte fame, is vel con-
ducted and is most delightful place to
spend 3 few summer months.
Eho aotel i located q short distance
from he railroad and faces the canyon
extending scuthwaTd. Lofty mountains,
| thickiy Severed with pine and other
trees, with Mount Shasta looming UP in
the distance, form fitting background
TO this DIT Of mountain scenery. Across
the river TO the west rise the majestic
| Castle Rocks, after which the hotel was
named. so perfect i'll appearance are
these castle rocks that one can hardly re-
aliZe that he Is not gazing upon some
grand castle Of the olden Time. Yet no
work OF man could ever have equaled
these works OF Nature in grandeur and
/ beauty.
| Close TO the hotel is a fine spring of nat
ural soda Of Il delicious quality. The
many deep pools OF the river contain
J
| who care to go "a fishing" a little TO
! the northwest of the hotel stands the
| mountain home of Colonel Fred Croker,
/ which viii soon be ready for occupancy.
! Owing to lack Of room at Castle Crags.
many VINO applied for accommodations
| had to be refused, and the register al
! ready contains the names OF very large
number OF the elite Of the coast
\ special train is run weekly as far
| north as Sisson, thus enabling the guests
| to have an opportunity Of getting better
! view of Mount Shasta and the beauties OF
! the upper sacramento.
Upon leaving this delightful resort our
party wended our way toward Sisson.
! At Mossbrae Falls the train stopped five
minutes to allow all to alight and drink
some of the natural soda water that bub-
! bleS up from spring close to the edge of
| the river.
We were loath to leave so charming a
spot, and, "Al aboard from the conduc-
| tor, came far too soon. All available space
on the rear platform was quickly occu-
pied, and no point of interest escaped the
sightseeing party
In emerging from the deep canyon Of
the Sacramento the train winds around
the mountain side. Up, up 90 the two
! ponderous engines with their precious
| load. How they puff and snort in their
own peculiar way, as though exclaiming
to all, ''lt is uphill work, but never fear,
/ you Will be we'll taken care Of" When
the summit is reached what a glorious
sight meets the eye! Grand old Mount
Shasta looms far up into the sky. She
seems so close that we might almost
! touch her snowy mantle: far below winds
the beautiful river that, but moment
/ before, we had crossed for the last time.
At SiSson we took d late breakfast, and
! from there on we rode over COMPARE
| lively level country. Large quantities Of
hay is raised in this section, which is
either shipped to the south or fed to the
/ immense droves of cattle that are brought
in from the mountains in the fall to be
tattened and shipped to the north and
south TO supply the markets of the large
/ cities. The Edison ranch at Gazelle is
used for this purpose and is one of the
! finest OF its kind aud size in California.
! Abouttwenty-tiVe miles further north
is Ager Station, where we left the train
for a twenty mile ride TO klamath
! Hot Springs. This ride was an unin-
! tereStlng one for about ten miles, but for
! the remaider of the way we rode through
a heavy growth OF timber along by the
river bank. How Inadly the waters of
| the klamath River dash alongi Eyerv-
! thing is swept along, and woe to the
| lucklesS object that drops into this stream.
! Upon our arrival at the springs, at 6 p
4 NJ, we were Hospitality received by Mr..
Edison, the genial owner and proprietor.
! These springs were formerly known as
! Shovel Creek; and aside from the medic
inal quality OF the water, the place has
| long been noted as a famous fishing re-
sort. Great quantities of trout eggs are
shipped from here TO the several fish
hatcheries on the coast. The hotel is
/ built of stone, and stands close to a grove
of cottonwood and other trees. During
the summer months many families from
the north and south spend weeks in this
delightful place.
Our party being DESTROYS of seeing more
of the country, hired an experienced
mountaineer, who lives at the springs, TO
take US to the famous Crater Lake in
I klamath County, Oregon-about 100 miles
from the State line. Our guide took us
over rugged mountains, through dense
forests and across several rapid streams.