Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-01-16
woNpRous SCENERY IN MONTANA.
a Newly Discovered Region That Is Said
to Rival the Yosemite.

WONbnOOO OSGNEhf tN WONi NM
a Newly Discovered Region That Il Said
to Rival the Yosemite.
There has been discovered during the
past season by party OF scientists in one
of the most inaccessible portions OF Mon
tana a spot that for grandeur and uniqpe
beauty Rivos promise Of outriyaling the
Yosemite valley Of California, tho Grand
canyon Of Colorado and other famops
scenic attractions of the great west,
This newly discovered wonderland is
ltuated north OF Lake Mcdonald, near
tho boundary limo between Flathead and
Teton counties, among the snow Cehered
peaks of that remote region and surround
ed by almost impenetrable forests. Until
recently tho beauties of this place had never
been seen, excepting by Indians and hsh
breeds and possibly few trappers and
prospectors. A half breed scout having
told party Of "wise men from the east, "
camping ON the shore of Lake Mcdonald
itself bit Of wondrous scenic beauty
marvellous tales Of the wonders of this
spot, their interest was aroused, and they
determined to visit this isolated region and
Judge for themselves of its attractions.
Accordingly they first proceeded to the
head Of Lake Mcdonald, where they Sc
cured as guides and packers two trusty
frontiersmen, half breeds, named Geduhn
and Apgar, who were familiar with these
wild mountains and trackless forests. 1t
was an arduous undertaking, but they
toiled persistently onward. The steep,
narrow trail led northward from the lake
for perhaps ten miles. When this distance
had been accomplished, their journey was
only Just begun. For many miles they
were obliged to chop their way through
dense forests and tangled underground,
where nothing but tho trails of deer and
footprints OF bears-many OF the latter
very fresh--could be detected.
After two days Of indefatigable labor
they suddenly came upon spot Of such
rare beauty that DR.. L. B. Sperry of Min
neapolis, one of the party and considered
an authority on American scenery, pro-
nuunced it "a scenic gem of the first
wator'' This consisted of basin in the
shape of horseshoe, about 2 miles in
length and or u miles in width, sur
rounded on all sides by walls of rock, ris-
ing almost perpendicularly to heights
varying from 1900 to 1900 feet. In the
floor Of this basin, like jewel in its set
ting, was beautiful lake of deep sapphire
blue, n miles in length by half mile in
width, its waters of such perfect olearness
that the speckled trout, with which they
were filled, were plainly visible. The sur
rounding lodges of rock were surmouRted
by numerous peaks rising to dizzy
heights 1000 to 1000 feet above the am
ber line, their SUBMITS white with per-
petual snow.
At the head OF the basin were two
streams of icy water, pouring in beautiful
cascades over the rocks and cliffs, some
times olinging to the walls, resembling
ribbons and cords of silver, and sometimes
dashing over the lodges, diffusing them
selves in clouds of rainbow tinted spray,
hundreds of feet below. The total height
of these silvery streams was estimated to
be at least 2, 500 feet, and they derive their
supply from the vast fields of eternal snow
lying in the awful solitudes far above.
Along portion Of the southern wall
there was q slope extending from height
of 1000 feet down nearly to the border Of
the lake. Here avalanohes are of frequent
occurrence, shooting down the slope will
terrific force, and with q rushing, roaring
sound not unlike peals of thunder, and
plunging into the unfathomable depths oi
rocky chasms. On account of these of
recurring avalanches the party christened
this secluded mountain valley Avalanche
basin, and the surrounding peaks and
picturesque masses of rocks were giveI
names suggested by their appearance; the
Sphinx, the Dome, Cathedral Spires, the
Castles, and the Matterhorn, the last or
account of its surprising resemblance tc
the far famed Alpine peak.
The walls incloslng this bit Of wonder
are Of metGmorphic sandstone, some o.
the strata being of unclouded quartz
nearly as white as the surrounding SHOWS
while other strata are of bright red. ThC
formation of the rocks exhibits many mar
velous phenomena, and the place contain!
many scientific as we'll as scenic attrac
tions, and will prove most interesting
field of study for the geologist and mineral
ogist.
1t is very probable that long ago, in tht
prehistoric ages this spot was the bed o.
some enormous iIland lake of great depth
of which the litEe lake now existing IL
its center contains, comparatively speak
ing, only the last few drops in the slowl,
emptying basin. But whatever may hav
been its history in the dim and distan
past, it is easy to predict its future, fo
when, by the construction of good roads
communication shall have been established
with railways, 1t is certainly destined t,
become one of the most celebrated resorts
shrine where earth's weary pilgrims will
find peace and rest.-Helena (Mon.) Lot
ter in Boston Transcript.
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