The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-14
NATURES. S. CURIOSITY SHOP
Journal Of the Third Days Tour
Of Yellowstone Park.
WONDERS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE
sober Narrative Of Actual Sights. scenes
snd Expeslenses That Rssds Liks
the Widest Fietiou--Truly tho
Wonderland of the Universe.
Written for The Tribune.


Wonderland Of tho Universe.
Written for The Tribune.
The Sunrise gun from Fort Yellow
stone on the morning of the third day,
startled US like the blast OF a bugle,
warning the tourist that the mountain
coaches were soon to be arrayed before
the veranda of the hotel, for a tour OF
the Park.
The Park tour always begins from
Mammoth Hot Springs hotel. The stage
coach, like the buffalo. has ceased TO De
an attractive feature OF western travei.
except, as 1t is preserved and utilized
in the Yellowstone National Park. II
has been crowded out by the railroads,
except here. where 1t remains In a
state. q style and with accommoda-
tlons betting It's past glory. Here 1t
is for pleasure and not for business,
ana 1t Is nearer to the coach In the
east than 1t Is like the coach OF the
plains.
Every morning from three to ten
coaches leave the hotel in a bunch. on
schedule time. and they generally Keep
within a short distance OF each other
throughout the tour. no passing OF
coaches being allowed. The drivers are
MI Olu -tltuc StdSC III thS
AsJhe stages etart off--as for q show
paraae--it Is quite remindful OF the an
nual autumnal coaching parade Of the
combined hotels Of the White Noun
tains. Bill Mayne, OF Deadwood fame,
seems to take the lead, with his hand
some bays, and with Doc" Wilson as
guide. Superintendent 8. S. Huntley
courteously furnished us with a two
horse, two-seated covered surrey. with
Scott Haslan as driver and guide;
II not as world famed as Bill Mayne. he
is equally as skillful driver and COM
petent guide, having been identified
with the Park from its opening.
found him IL man of superior intelli-
gence. and to him l owe much of the
valuable data grouped during our
eight or nine days travel together in
the Park. Whoever may visit the Park
In the future, will make no mistake In
asking Mr.. Huntley for Scott" to
guide him through It,
AN EXPANDING TOUR.
The tour of the Park as now laid out
Is an expanding one. j mean by this
that. like a well-written story. 1t pro-
ceeds by natural stages from the sub
lime beginning, through the more eX-
citing scenes and situations to the eli
max. The climax Of this trip Is The
Grand Canyon" and 4 thrilling eli
max 1t is. Interesting as the initial
spot (Mammonth Hot Springs) IS, 1t
Is really perhaps the least remarkable
OF the special phenomena found in the
Park
Our first drive is from Mammoth Hot
Springs to Norris Geyser Basin
twenty-five miles. Nearly every mile
Of the road has something of inter-
nSt IL hR n wild ViDa "a lnvply
park. a secluded lake, a sprins OF
mineral drinking water or busy beav-
ers, roaming elk, and deer. or even a
buffalo and bear. All of these first
mentioned are found at short dis
tances along the road. where our
guide will always stop at the request
of his party to investigate.
From the time we leave the hotel. II
Is climb, climb. climb. First, the daz-
zling terraces are passed. Then, as
we wind along the edge of the slopes of
the Canyon of the Gardiner. We come to
strange rock formations. Here are the
biggest crops of the biggest rock we
have ever seen. Any one of them looks
as If 1t We're the ''rock Of ages" On
the side OF Terrace Mountain, two miles
on our journey, Is a range Of limestone
formations. called the "Hoodoo Region"
and this extends about a mile to Col
den Gate" These mysterious looking
monuments cover acres. even the en-
tire hillside. ranging in height from ten
to fifty feet So thick are these snow
white. inanimate forms which resemble
every hideous character under the sun,
that one could be lost In the tortuous
passage between them. Language
does not suffice to properly describe
these peculiar formations. Those on
the extreme boundary of Terrace
Mountain were remindful Of the pali-
sades on the Hudson. rising to $50. $50
and even 800 feet in height. An inter.
esting feature cropping out here and
there on either side of the road. was the
numerous natural springs. An occa-
sional camping party Is seen near them.
Among one we met was Professor Wy
ley, Of Boseman, Montana, a noted
geologist.
THE GOLDEN GATE.
After another mile Of climbing on a
grade overcoming an elevation of 100
feet In three miles, the road comes out
abruptly on the Golden Gate" one of
the most picturesque points In the park,
with it's red sandstone pillar on the
one side and its redder sandstone cliff,
rising hundreds of feet above the road
way. on the other. 1t Is covered with a
yellow moss, from which 1t derives it's
appropriate name.
Golden Gate is a deep, narrow gorge
between Bunsen Peak and Terrace
Mountain and the only exit from the
valley of the Gardiner river to the Gey-
ser Basins. Yellowstone Lake and Can
yon. Between the pillar, formerly a
part of the canyon wall, and the cliff,
there Is Just room enough for the coach
to pass, while high bridge or trestle
carries the roadway across the poker
ish chasm to the Rustic Falls" in the
west fork Of the Gardiner These high
falls add a charm to the rugged Wild
ness OF Golden Gate. This one mile of
roadbed cost the government $4,000,
and Is difficult piece of engineering.
which the engineers refer to with lust
pride. This road Is winding curiosity
with its protruding white and gray
rocks at all angles, in all shapes, sizes
and positions.
ENHANCING SCENERY.
The view from Golden Gate looking
down the Canyon Of the Gardiner
(Which Is only second to Grand Canyon)
Is indescrlbably grand: even bewider-
ing. The change In scenery in three
miles has been from volcanic forma-
ton Of lime rock. without even sug-
gestion of vegetation to one of grand
mountain view, with towering peaks
and yawning chasms