Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-03-24
A LITTLE GIRLS DIARY.
What She Saw In Bingham, BannOck
and Fremont Counties.

HAs@ @NNe@AAVAh NfNANARSs
We arrived in Soda Springs, Octo-
tober 18th, 1893, aud stated one day.
Wednesday we started to Gentle Val
ley, our way laid along the banks of
the crooked Bear river, which has its
sources in the Wasatch mountains,
some $50 miles southeast of Soda
Springs. In some places along Bear
river are some wide beautiful, fertile
valleys, dotted here and there with
the thrifty Mormon ranchmen, tilling
the soil and raising his fiocks of sheep
and herds of cattle, while the beauti-
full mountains on each side of the
valleys covered with the luxurious
growth of grass and lofty pines afford
ample grazing and shelter for the
ranchmen's herds.
In and around Soda Springs upon
mounds that look like they we're form
ed by hands, bubbles forth the pure
soda and iron water from Natures
fountains.
AS we wound our way from Soda
the beautiful Bear river, with its rug
ged banks and mountains upon either
side, upon the banks of the river about
two miles below Soda Springs, shoots
forth the noted Steam Boat Springs,
as il shoots its stream six or eight
feet in the air with its puff, puff, puff,
the deafening noise reminds one Of
the old time ID. & r. G. steam engines
going up hill
Leaving the springs, we follow the
course of Bear river about IA miles,
and arrived Ia a beautiful valley cali
ed Gentle Valley. the heart of Nor
nonism, it is thickly settled not by
Gentiles, but by Mormons. The ele-
walton is about $500 feet above sea
level. Here we made our first camp,
and mama being sick could not enjoy
herself very we'll. Thursday we went
fishing and papa caught some trout
which weighed from a pound and a
half to three pounds. On account Of
mama being sick, we returned oyer
the same route back. to Soda. We
had to remain in Soda four days be-
fore mama was able to travel, then
we started on our journey north. The
first night out we camped on Little
Blackfoot river. Fishing and hunt
ing here was very fine and here is
where had my first experience fish
ing, and can't explain how pleased |
was when pulled out large salmon
trout, weighing p pounds. was a
proud girl and thought | had done
well for one Of my age; the excite.
ment can only be felt by experience.
The air Is cold and bracing in this
climate and water pure and healthy
for one not subject to sickness. The
climate is different from "old sun.
shiny" Colorado.
Our next camp was on Meadow
Creek. Nothing Of any note at this
place; only grass and hills.
The next place we camped was on
Willow Creek, where we we're snow
bound for two days, whence our road
wound around through the hills to-
ward the beautiful Snake river AS
we assembled the great divide-it is
worth ones lifetime to view the beauti-
full scenery as il lays before you. Be-
fore descending to the Snake river
valley, yon see the beautiful vale y
dotted here and there with its irrigat.
ing canals and ranches for so or 60
miles along the river as far as one
can see until the view is hidden by the
Indian reservation. From this view
one can see the Teton Peaks distance
of 100 miles; the two lone peaks rails
ing their majestic heads in the Lost
River country, a distance so of miles,
like two sentinels to guard the level
plains between the two snowy ranges.
Looking north one can see as far as
the eye can reach the open valley
where the mighty Snake river winds
its course with its rocky cliff and falls
towards its fountain head. Looking
southwest you esn still trace the