The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-02-24
CENTRAL IDAHO.
A Trip to the Wonderful "Unsxplored Sec.
tion" Of the State,


ton" Of the State.
Central Idaho is the largest practically
unexplored section Of country on the
American continent outside OF Alaska,
and its scenery is certainly the grandest
and most romantic. Having been ap-
pointed by Gov. Wiley as one OF three
commissioners to select routes for pro.
posed system of wagon roads to be con-
structed by the state to give outlets to
the great mineral belts of those almost
unknown mountains and valleys, took
a trip through the heart of the state in
the summer OF 1892, accompanied by E.
7. Perkins, practical surveyor, and a
force OF five men.
Our first regular camp was in Bear
Valley, now in Boise county. The high
est mountain Ito the southwest) reaches
an altitude OF $3.50 feet and from its
summit a splendid view is obtained of
the valley and the Cape Horn country.
Through the center OF Bear Valley runs
Bear creek, which is the head OF the
/ -sAiNdAC NaAiiou. ShlttCu oii SItilCi eiuc
with meadows OF luxuriant wild grass,
the beautiful stream looked like silver
thread stretched across an evening sky
OF many hues. Measured from the rims
OF the surrounding mountains the valley
contains 900 square miles. To the east
Is Cape Horn, point known to all old
prospectors OF this portion of the coun-
try as the point where all the Indian
trails through the state center and pass.
To the northeast Sheep mountain looms
up in grandeur; on this mountain there
are many mines OF both gold and silver,
but it is difficult to take pack animals
over the high and rugged mountains and
through the deep gorges. so that these
mines are not as extensively worked as
their richness warrants. Sulphur creek,
which empties into the Salmon opposite
Sheep mountain, is beautiful, clear
stream filed with trout. Many weigh
ing from two to four pounds were caught
after the evening work at camp was
done. From the mouth up for seven or
eight miles hot mineral springs are very
abundant, and the smell Of sulphur is
everywhere. This suggested the name
of the creek to an old trapper who had
preceded US into the wiljs OF the Salmon
river mountains. Thousands OF elk and
deer visit these springs, and good game
trails lead to them from all the canyons.
In fact, have never heard or read OF a
greater game country. Deer were al
ways in sight in every direction, some
times approaching within 100 feet OF US
out OF pure curiosity. Grouse and "iool
chickens" were also abundant. The
latter is indeed a queer fowl. 1t is about
the size OF pheasant, and found in the
marshes. 1t makes splendid food, the
meat tasting like that OF the pheasant.
On your approaching as il intending to
pass, the queer chickens will not move
and are easily killed with sticks three or
four feet long. The name is we'll given.
1t was my lot to assist Mr.. Perkins at
the work OF making maps. The labor
of taking trianyulations for the purpose
of following up the route with correct
map was very difficult, but interesting,
indeed, as it gave Us al opportunity of
seeing and enjoying the grandest works
Of nature in America. Saddling our
mules and packing our instruments on
another, we would start for the summit
OF the highest mountain within a radius
OF 10 or Is miles. Often these trips were
very toilsome, and many time we were
obliged to leave the mules and convey
the instruments on cur backs. In the
middle OF July We were caught in snow
storm on the summit OF a mountain at
the head OF Sulphur creek. The light.
ming played all around the buttes and in
ten minutes time they were az white as
in midwinter. After the storm all the
clouds settled down into the canyons
and miniature valleys, leaving the buttes
like hundreds Of white islands upon a
troubled sea. The scene was grand be-
yond description.
The extreme ruggedness and sublimi. |
ty OF the Salmon river mountains can be I
understood only through illustrations, as |
to describe them would be a very ardu-
ous task. The mountains are OF granite /
and loom up thousands Of feet above the ,
timber line. On every plateau there is /
a beautifully clear spring. In fact, there
is water everywhere. At the attitudes .
Of 5000 and 5000 feet there are many
Iakes-some small, some large. From I
one point in the Sawtooth range 81 lakes /
Of varying sizes come within the vision /
Of the naked eye. Their waters are ex-
'remely clear and pure, yet many are so
ieep that persistent soundings have not .
found their bottom. One, near Stanley /
Basin, that is less than elk miles long by I
three wide, has been sounded to depth /
Of 1000 feet without reaching bottom. 1t
is filed with delicious trout, and grouse,
fool chickens, deer, elk and bear are
plentiful in the vicinity.
All through this wild and practically
unexplored Central Idaho gold can be /
obtained by washing the dirt in a pan,
and quartz is strewn over the ground ev.
erywhere. That it is one OF the greatest +
mineral sections OF the great Northwest |
is certain, and its riches will soon be /
easily accessible by the pro-
posed state wagon road.-EGBERT JONES,
in "The Rockies" Magazine.
~ Overland