The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-03

in forty-seven miles the road over
comes an elevation of $500 feet, while
the descent to the Atlantic Slope, from
the highest elevation above sea level to
the plains eastward, is almost i'm
perceptible, being continued over hun
dreds of miles at an average grade OF
not more than fifteen feet to the mile.
Leaving the summit, the next station
reached Is Laggan, at the foot of Le-
troy Mountain, the station for the
seven miles 366 feet, to an altitude of
4 1880 feet. We leave behind now the
serrated rocky peaks which seem like
turrets ascending to the sky and fol-
low the Bow Valley-a gap in the Bow
range. Within these seven miles are
three remarkable lakes, and no more
delightful spot is imaginable than these
lovely stretches of water in CLOUD
land" First, is Lake Agnes, $3.50 feet,
then Mirror, the latter reached by
bride path on the mountain side. 6iOO
feet, and perched amidst the most ro-
mantle environments. About three
miles from the station Is Lake Louise,
$500 feet, truly a lake In the clouds,
and on it's margin is another Chalet
hotel. where parties can secure lunch
con or remain over night in the wilder
ness. No tourist should fail to visit
these lakes which are of singular
beauty. Lake Louise with its tremen-
dous peaks and precipices, its glaciers
and snow fields, its stretch of mirror
water, depth of color. amid the slender
tapering spruces, and meadows OF wild
flowers, calls forth all the adjectiVes
its visitors can command. 1T is one OF
the favorite resorts of invalid visitors
Al. Tnt ft,,r lt
which / will speak later on.
NO MORE GLACIERS.
We now bid adieu to glaciers, the last
being on the shoulder of Mt. Hector,
a broad crescent-shaped river of ice,
300 feet above the railway and
dozen miles away, partially concealed
behind the lofty yellow cliffs that hem
it in, and almost inaccessible by reason
of the rayines, rocky precipices ana
forests which intervene.
From Laggan to Banff Is thirty four
miles and we descended 43O feet. as
we proceed the scenery on all sides is
most grand. The Rockies here exceed
our expectations. The scenic effects
are such as no mortal man can con-
ceive of until he has witnessed them.
1t takes, more than two looks to meas
ure the mountains left behind, or the
valley that confronts us below, for
both mountains and valley play fantas-
tic tricks with the eye as the train
moves along. first bounding behind
ridges then around curves and madly
racing into the depths below. Ahead
through the trees to the left, we get
enchanting glimpses of the lofty Bow
Range: on the right appears the bare.
rugged, shapely serrated sub-range.
called the "Sawback," the central and
loftiest mountain in which is Pilot
Mountain, which looms up $3.50 feet
high, like a leaning pyramid: also, the
imposing cone of Copper mountain,
800 feet high. while to the left is the
gap of Vermillion Pass through which
are seen distant lofty snow peaks along
the Continental watershed. from whose
glaciers and snow fields the Vermillion
river flows. Westward of the entrance
into the pass stretches the long. rugged,
and wall-lke front of Mt. Temple. while
directly in front is the loftiest and
grandest of this whole panorama,
Mount LEROY, 11.66O feet. prodigious,
isolated, helmet shaped mountain,
which stands supreme over the whole
range.
PEAKS IN ABUNDANCE.
This mountain comes prominently
into view at Cascade Station. Castle
Mountain station Is at the base of the
great peak whose name it takes. Here
was once a mining camp called Silver
City, but now there are more dwellings
than inhabitants. To say that the
scenery with all these peaks promin
ent. is exceedingly grand, does not eX-
press it or do justice to the truth.
Castle mountain here looms up on the
left, $3.50 feet, a sheer precipice OF
5000 feet with turrets, bastions, and
battlements complete as II thrown up
by engineers at the proper angle of
forty-five degrees to the main line of
fertilization. AS we skirt the Vcrmil
lion Lakes, we get fine view of Mount
Massive and the snow peaks far to the
west, enclosing Simpsons Pass and al
so the snow ledges forming the eastern
crest of Pilot Mountain; besides Hole
in the wall'' mountain upon the left,
1900 feet. Let the reader if he can
imagine such combination of noun
famous scenery as that by which we are
encircled. rising in mighty grandeur
from eight to eleven thousand feet,
their white peaks-regions of eternal
up above the misty
clouds, while the marvellous clearness
of the atmosphere of this section brings
out their sculpture minutely.
Six miles from the noted Banff Hot
Springs. we enter the western confines
of the Rocky Mountain" or Canadian
National Park" where a half dozen
ranges of these tipped mountains
center, each differing from the 9TH
ers in form and color. and the con-
vergng valleys separating them afford
matchless views in any direction we
may look Right here in the heart of
this grand and impressive scenery the
Dominion government has made a res
ervation of a tract twenty-siX miles
long and ten miles wide, which in
cludes a remarkable group of Hot Sui
phur Springs, as a National Park,
analogous to our own Yellowstone
Park. An account of this great health
resort and Canadian Wonderland"
Will appear next week.
]. T.. Richmond.