The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-11

1a 4 muddy trail IN steady rain WIFE
every stitch % clothing dTenchsd and MS
feet s2uitching il ware--logged boots
This style of travelling j not attractive
yvea for A single day but when II IS
prolonged for a week II generates deep
disgust. 81 which one : 700 1uH for
uftsrarce- Such were The circumstances
under which The writer made his Journey.
TIE first day q comparatively snort
tramp was made up Mount 3 70 where
John 2. GreSer and Fred Ellis were az
work The way led 70 the railroad track
through The broad. level stretches OF hsy-
field, pasture and hslf-cleareG land when
forms Sallai prairie. 70 the station o.
that name. three miles distant The road
is not operated 70 this point. but Il IS
still there. ready for trains whenever the
traffic Is developed FOR them. From The
station A trail leads among the ranches
70 the bank - the roaring middle fork,
whore john Coke ferries Won over n a
sk.9. The river i swift and rolls savage
" over Big bollders 81 that some skill
IS required N navigating i. The only
safe course IS 10 keep the bow up stream
and paddle FOR dear life n avoid being
carried down 10 the rifle short distance
below. On the opposite hank q trail leads
through 4 narrow strip of bottom land
in which Mr.. Miller mas made a good
farm. where he dweiis with his wife and
L
dren. Then the tran goes up the sheer
mountain side swinging 20 the west. un-
IL u reaches M Greger's cabin perched
on a bench among The rocks. Mr.. Greger
Is about u cut a new trail down the
mountain IN a westerly course. which viii
reduce the distance 70 North Bend 70
only two miles and VIII be i boon 10
travellers.
View From Mount 81.
The trip 10 the Black Jack and Bald
Hornet was more Of an undertaking, Tor
il involved spending a night On the noun
tain. In company with : n. Gustin. who
acted as guide, the writer shOuldered
pack containing a pair OF blankets and
some supplies and crossed the river at
the same ferry. The couple then took
different trail up the mountain, which
has just been cut by MIR. Guye and viii
he a JOY 10 climbers. OF course, IL Is
steep and makes many Switchbachs. but
IL Is wide enough to ride horse and has
the strong recommendation OF slipping
only one way. II climbs at tirst through
brush. with little timber. and then enters
dense forest. through which it zisZags
with constantly increasing grades until
il strikes the level in Medicine valley,
surrounded by peaks and rendered
sWampy by innumerahle small streams
pouring from them. From this trail a
splendid view can be obtained on fine
day. and one Is forced 10 pause and adj
mire even amid the downpour Far be-
low the middle fork winds through the
valley like a silvery snake. dashed into
white foam where II boils over boulderS
Above towers the conical peak OF Tene-
rife with white quartz cropping at ITS
base ard resembling stand-up collar
To the left on the southeast is the low
wooded line OF Grouse ridge. beyond
which the south fork leaps over ledge
Of rock forming the upper falls. Directly
in front. across the valley, is another
large wooded ridge beyond which Cedar
lake lies embosomed in placid beauty.
Would the clouds but lift their clammy
veil this would 5e a scene 10 inspire poet
and painter. But a man has no appre-
citation for the beautiful when he is car
rying several gallons OF water in his
clothes.
Ferry Across Torrent.
on the return TO the river. 1t was found
TO b+ swollen by the rain until the waves
ieaped in spray where they rolled over the
bouldars. and there was some hes tation
about attempting the crossing. Finally
Mr. Miller and his boy ferried the writer
across In his fiat-bottomed boat and safely
landed him on the other shore. The fran
craft tossed up and down on the waves,
one If which leapsd angriiy and slapped
the writer on the shoulder. drenching HIM
anew II was only by strenuous padding
that the boat was kept in her course. and
a shout went up as she passed into smooth
water Mr.. Gustin, sherry McElroy and
John Taylor followed in "a larger boat
without mishap.
Vices Of IA BaclAv Gods Trail.
The worst example of a Washington trail
was encountered IN going up 10 Granite
creek. From Sallal up the most Travelled
path is the railroad track until il coTnsS 10
an end. Then the grade devoid OF ties
and rails, is followed for short distance
until the wagon road crossing Is reached.
1t is a fine. level, gravel road across the
prairie. bu< when il passes the shoulder OF
Grouse ridge and enters the Middle Fork
valley, gravel gives place 10 mud, and the
latter Increase IN depth when a lossins
camp on G. 3 Lees property is reached.
The loggers are laying skds across It here
and churning up the mud. II climbs over
hills and down into hollows until ii comes
10 an abrupt end at Eyastus Johuson's
farm. Then comes the trail, AT first close
Is following 6he river bank. where room
has at intervals been made for ID by blast
ing of the points Of the bluffs. Al last il
enters level bottom land or muddy hills
where the feet sink deep and the brush
hangs thick over the way. Here one gath
ers water at every step, from above Ivy
heavens cwa shower bath and from the
sides by the dripplnss from the brush.
One mde OF suCh travelling is more eX-
hausting than four miles along good
trail or road. Ii brings one n a sorry
plight TO John Flschers hOSpit8ple tAche-
lor roof and the next mile and "A half IL
even worse for il leads across the broad
bottoms at the month Of Granite creek.
where the mud IS Yet deeper and the brush
is thicker and almost hid 5 the tran. Ten
miles Of & good road would be better than