The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-17
IN THE BIG TIMBER
Party of Prominent AstOrians
Ride Through the Nehalem.
a GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION
Is Given of the Trip by One of the
Party Magnificent Scenery
AbOunds.

ON Monday, Sept. 2. party composed
OF Messrs. r. c. Stokes, G.. w. Sanborn.
IL. Prael and Masters Frank Sanborn
ana Chas. Gray started out on a trim
on horseback to Tillamool across the
mountains and return by the coast. Mr..
Prael was elected keeper of records ana
seals and his account Of the trip is a
most interesting one:
"We left Astoria on Monday, the End
of September under a bright sun ana
favorable auspices. The route was over
the Walluski road and we reached Olney
at O'Clock. There we put up our horses
for the night and all hands had a good
rest. The next morning we started for
Jewell at Z O'clock. The Clatskanine river
was reached at 10 o'clock and we ar
rived at Frank Suprenants for lunch.
Frank received us with open arms and
nlled us with bear stories while Mrs.
Suprenant prepared an excellent lunch.
Jewell was reached for supper and here
we spent the night. After breakfast a
start was made for Mlshawaka, where we
arrived ebout noon Miss Lynch, the
postmistress, very kindly set us out a
nice lunch. Fording the Nehalem river
we TOOK the road for Elsie and at this
point struck a heavy rain storm which
almost decided us to return home. Ar
rived at Elsie we found quarters with
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Gragg, who made
1t as pleasant as possible for us. In the
evening a. social game<of cards filed in
the time and we concluded to turn back
II It still stormed the next day. But
the morning broke with a clear sky and
we were encouraged to continue the Jour
ney. We spent the day here, however.
to fsh in the Humbug river which IS
one OF the finest trout streams in the
country.
From Elsie we resumed our trip on
Friday morning, following the south fork
Of the Nehalem, bound for the lower
Nehalem country. There Is a fine trail
which crosses the river several times.
The timber all along this part of the
country Is magnificent and the scenery Is
very beautiful. The forests are dense
and the big trees begin to get numerous
though finer timber is reached further
on. The picturesque streams winding |
through the deep forest with its dark |
green foliage or flowing through the |
rock bound canyons present untold at |
fractions to the fisherman or lover of ma
ture. One cannot help but pause ana
admire the stupendous works of nature.
here In the heart of the great timber pre-
serves, where the solitude and utter Sc |
clusion from the noise and daily grind of |
business impels the belief that one has |
entered different sphere. New thoughts |
crowd the mind and unless one Is quite |
hardened to all good influences he can
not but drink in some OF natures rem |
edies for tired brains and bodies ana
be the better for a short stay in these
quiet haunts. The business man Will also
invountarily dream Of the time when all
the riches about him will be added to the
worlds store of wealth and the mag
nificent timber find a. market. The most
beautiful scenery abounds the entire way.
We reached Fraser's cabin at 12 O'clock
and were well entertained by that gentle
man. We met a good many people along
this part OF the route, many of whom
were, like ourselves, bent on pleasure.
After luncheon We started on and here
encountered the first ascent. For three
miles the road here was so steep as to |
be almost perpendicular and we were
Obliged to walk and lead. the horses. The
timber In this region Is heavy spruce ana |
cedar and there are millions of feet OF II. |
we reached Gods Valley" at o'clock |
and stopped at George ParlSer's claim,
where we found Joe Russell and Fred |
Crosby. We we're heartily welcomed ana
treated most royalty. AS the accommo.
1ations were limited we slept IN the
barn on the hay. Saturday morning
bright and early we were in the saddle
ma OH for Nehalem City. In Gods VAL
ey we noticed many large spruce trees.
ind measured one peculiar tree. which
lad been damaged by fire, and found
to be 2 feet In diameter and about GO
eet In circumference. The lower limb
must have been feet in diameter. The
rec mad little or no top branches, and
Win Its immense trunk towering in the
-ir made a strange sight. From here
We passed through the burnt district
Vhere great damage to the spruce tim
er mad been done by the August fire.
Heavy losses occurred through this re-
Ion, some Of the settlers houses being
'urned. The trail here Is up and down
nd we had to walk many times. Cross
ng over to the north fork of the Ne
Ialem we finally reached Alleys, where
'e had lunch. Here the whole landscape
5 like one vast park and its beauties
re beyond description.
AT O'Clock Saturday afternoon we
rrived at Nehalem City. Here we visited |
llnney's cannery, which we found in
peration, the strike being over ana | ;
verybody was at work again. We staid
t the Columbia hotel, where the best in
he house was not too good for us. Sun
ay morning we took the road for Can
on Beach, passing Mccartney mountain
n the way. Here we enjoyed one OF
he grandest sights OF the entire trip.
he trail was not as rough as we had
cen led to believe. Tho trail across
'ase Tillamook was very much cut up 4
y a herd OF cattle, which had passed
yer the day before, belonging to r a
!. Warren. Arch Cope was another mag
ifcent sight. 1t Is quite impossible to Z
dequately describe the beauties ana
randeur OF this spot. The ocean on 7
ne side at your very feet, the forest | :