The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-15

us a refreshed sndon. arriving at oieson
Rroz ranch ard 10 the end of the wagon
road four miles from our camp. quite early
in the morning. The Oleson Bros are
,,roprie:crs OF the only pack train on this
route to the mines. antl have made frie7ds
Of all with whom they have done business.
Here the horse trail begins which was
raade last spring and summer by the 81
Helens Gold Mining Company TO the Up
uer ToufIe, or Green river. Mining creek
ana Snow lake. II IS a good one, wei Sc
iecte-d and cleared. costing the county sey-
ersi thousand dollars. long climb ana
descent over Eatchet mountain ga oreary
fhres-hoairs' trail through an old burn.
hrinyx Us to Dsvsi's creek. pretty stream
In spite Of its name. where we lunch. Then
through FIR. cedar and alder wooos We
make a short afternoon tramp OF II, camp
ing three miles east Of Alder City. and fsf-
teen miles from Salmon creek Alder City
81 a nall ranch with a comfortable cabin
and barn. where one can get a meal. a.so
feed CT hay or straw. which is generally
a scarce article On the trail. This ranch.
which is two days frarel from Hama
ford lake. Is on section s. township 10.
range east-
In the morning we crossed TsyIor's creek,
took a turn around Grand mountain. over
Suppolse creek, and a spur OF cyclone
river. On sight and hearing of which the
trail zigxags It's way through vine maple
trees, 70 Soda Springs. and the bridge
which crosses the river at the mouth OF
Mining creek. five miles farther on.
Toutie. or Green river. as the miners call
n, Is large enough here TO produce 1O
horsepower under ten-foot Hume IN
low water, dashing over and around its
rocky way. falling about hfty feet 10 the
mile. famous for it's trout, and excellent
fishing grounds, at and near Soda Springs.
We camp at the springs. which are Within
40 yards Of the river. They are wonder
fui. 10 SAY the least, and without doubt
full of virtue. We partook OF the waters
freely and II they were the actual cause
"a oq,r Increasing appetites. should ad-
ytee all making this trip. with a small
meek of provisions. to pass them by Ton
m cir way UP certainly. They are about
twsu1y miles by trail from Alder CITY
Two and one-half miles from the springs
up the river, the St. Beicns Company have
located a mill site. one mile from which
"A the Great Northern lode and camp The
,ra, crosses the river ono and one-haf
miles from this camp over a substantial
bridge Here a store and assay-ng ofiieo
was kept during the summer by MI
HusbrosDk, and fhree-fourths OF mile
from the bridge the Mining creek trail
sets of to the right, the river tran con-
Samson. twelve miles. and Chicago, seven
teen miles from the forks.
Taking the Mining creek trail we pass
the following lodes and camps; the 81
Helens Venus. Mammoth, trysfai. Minnie
Alice or Camp Reitbrock. and the Copper
Bottom or Camp Deuster. These camps
are all near the trail. on the creek. and iy-
ing within a radius OF six miles from the
bridge Nearly all were being worked In
n small way. without machinery or proper
tools. every one seemingly well pleased
with their prospects. At Camp Reii-
brock we met Il. II. Krieger. the gentleman
Il, charge of the st. Helens Companys
stores and prospecting equipments. and'k.
4. Lange. tho district recorder. who Is n
rustler. keeps a well written book OF re-
cords and lives at Toledo.
We leave Camp Reitbgock on the Snow
lake trail, which takes us within three
quarters OF n nlie of the peaks surround
ing Lake Hanaford. These three miles
OF trail are almost one continual climb. as
cending about ]. 20; feet to the mile. switch
backing our way UP the steep mountain
sides. mostly covered with short frs. ce-
dars and iarch. We cross one or two lt-
Ito prairies covered with rich grass. and
sprinkled with flowers. Fairgrounds and
lunch baskets for the herds OF deer which
make these heights their home In late
summer and autumn when, with almost
NJ
ing we suddenly can peer over the top of
a cliff and down into a miniature world
with a glass bottom. Seven hundred feet
below US was IIanaford lake. sparkling
like Jewel In the evening sunlight, In as
pretty setting as ever a gem was placed.
Afier day or two OF rest and camp
building, work began In earnest. prospect
fng and sinking shafts into the decon-
posed quartz strata, which are from six
inches 10 ten fee, In width. standing nearly
vertical, between well defined walls OF
granite. Blasts 10 the right of Us. blasts
to tho left OF W.. blasts In front of us.
vollied and Numbered. from Saow lake.
Chicago. Samson and Mining creek came
the booms OF giant powder. which we soon
returned. shot for shot. from the Dandy
Jack Three Sisters and lAttle Giant.
That there Is a vast mineral deposit In
the 81. Heleus district there Is no doubt.
and that some of the assures are filled
with rich gold bearing ores many can
vouch for. The scenery Is grand. the old
rrospectors saying that the peaks near
Hanaford and Snow lake are as slightly
as any IN the Cascade range being about
5000 feet high. From their SUBMITS n view
IL obtained far reaching and beautiful.
Mounts Rainier. iIelens Adams and Hood
stand like white seniinels gllstening in the
sunlight.
Tho snow-oovered backbone OF the Cas-
cades zgzags It's way not far in the east.
ms full OF bumps as the road 20 Boston. a
few of the tallest peaks showing their
crcsts above the clouds appearing like
small, craggy Islands. floating in sea
OF foam. The clouds just below were n
sea OF lazy. foamy feccy pillows. which.
with t1Lrlr motion ana the sunlight. pro-
dueed scenes ever changing and seeun5ngiy
real, equal 10 the iniaginatinns NJ Mil
ton or n Dante. Sc. lIslels. six miles away,
looked but stones throw; u most beau;i-
fui mountain; smooth. pure white and
wlth scarcely waver IN It's outlines OF n
perfect cone. The sunhcams grow hotter.
the clouds disappear. when. presto. change.
fairYiand becomes earthly pearl erottos
have changed % holes IN the wall. and
from airy castles We descend into those
same damp holes. ana dig for nlihy lmcrc.
W. G. II.