The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-07-20

! interested in reading the descriptions
of the trip, but it had not occurred to
me to think of this as desirable place
to spend a vacation. After discussing
the matter with my wife I determined
to make some inquiries about the ac-
cOmodations to be had at the lake and
found we could take a tent along and
get our meals at settlers places, where
visitors were generally accommodated.
The next day called on an old col
lege friend and asked him to join us
with his wife. He accepted the invi-
tation, and we commenced making
preparations for the trip.
The trip fom Seattle now includes
days ride on the steamboat up Hoods
! canal and staged ride from Hoods
port to the lake. At the time, how
! ever, there was only trail to the lake
and we had to get ponies for our wives
to ride, and one to pack the camping
outfit. We arrived at the lake about
noon, after passing through some of
the heaviest timbered country l have
seen in the state, and in good condi-
tion to appreciate the meal we found
| awaiting us at the settlers cabin,
whom we had previously notified of
our intended visit.
We found the lake all that we could
have expected, and it is certainly one
of the most charming places I have
ever visited, lying as it does at the
very base of snow-capped mountain
and in the fertile valley of the Skoko-
mish river. which winds its way
through the mountains for many a
mile
We spent the fast week of camp
life in fishing on the lake and canoing
on the river, where found excellent
sport and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
We seldom failed to catch all the fish
We wanted, and very often numbered
among the catch fish weighing from
| two to four and five pounds and some
even larger You talk about fishing
| in the creeks and rivers around Seattle
and Tacoma, but l tell you gentlemen
you don't know anything about fish
until you have fshed Lake Cushman
and the Skokomish river. Our wives
enjoyed themselves greatly, and would
60 out with us and paddle the canoes
around while we did the fishing, and
I also became quite experts with the
rod themselves.
For our second week we planned
trip across the divide over the trail
that had been made by the O'Neil
party. And right here let me tell you
gentlemen, that if you ever happen to
visit that part Of the country during
! the summer season, don't fail to take
trip across the divide Such an op-
portunity is seldom found in which to
cross the Olympics over trail like
the one made by the O'Ncil party.
We hired ponies for our wives to ride
and one to pack our camping outfit,
and got one of the settlers who was
familiar with the country to go along
with us and show us the best places for
camping. A days travel brought us
pretty we'll up the mountain to place
known as the "Garden of the Gods"
where we camped for couple of days.
We found here level plateau, about
half mile square, that was covered
with wild montain grasses and flow
ers, with an occasional clump of trees
and two or three little lakes of trans
parent purity. A magnificent view
presented itself of the Sound country,
and Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and
many smaller places could be disting-
uished with the naked eye. The Paci-
i6c ocean could also be seen be seen by
climbing little higher up the noun
tain. Game is quite plentiful in this
locality, and between sundown and
dark we saw an old she bear with her
cubs climbing up little ravine. We
also saw a couple of deer that came
down to one of the lakes to drink, and
ON seeing camp and ponies came closer
to investigate. They came to within
about a hundred yards of the tent.
We wanted some venison, but could
not hear to shoot the innocent looking
creatures as they stood there looking
at MS. Our guide, who was not as
cbickenhearted as we were, said he
would give them chance for their
lives, but that he meant to have
shot at them. He threw a stone
which frightened them and they ran
ran off toward the bushes. The guide
was too quick for them, however, and
and brought down one OF them,
Young buck, which furnished us with
some excellent meat for a couple OF
days.
We spent several days in climbing
around among the mountains, and