The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
soL1rARr soL MALrURSER.
Going Alone Through the wilderness to the
Arctic Ocean just for Fun.
Erom the SPOKANE Spokesman. Rerte.e.

From the Spokane Spokesman. Rerte,c.
Sol Malturner Of Canton. y. Y. is in Spokane,
on his way TO the Arctic Ocean via the Macken-
zie River. This will be his third trip. and tho
second he has made alone. He is an ex-locomo-
tive engineer, and goes simply for the pleasure
and an outing. He is a tall, why man, ap-
parently enjoying the best of health. A few
streaks OF gray in his otherwise brown hair and
mustache show he has passed the days of youth.
But his eye is clear and his laugh as merry as
that OF a schoolboy. Asked regarding his pro-
posed route, he said:
IL will leave Spokane about the first of the
month. l will take the Canadian Pacific to CAL
gary, and from there the Calgary and Edmons-
ton Railroad to the last.named city. From
there ! Will travel 100 miles by team to Atha-
basca Landing. which puts ne on water that
flows 10 the Arctic Ocean.
I" will go down the Great Slave Lake to where
II empties into the Mackenzie; then float down
that river TO the Arctic Ocean. Possibly ] may
come home by way OF Alaska: Otherwi se l will
retrace my journey from the ocean.
II decide to come by the CORNER route I will
go up the Peel River, which einpties into the
Mackenzie, about 100 miles south, of the ocean.
River. will follow up that stream some dis
tango and make a four.mile portage over the
Down this stream / will float till ! strike the
Yukon at Fort Yukon. then on to the Pacific
Ocean. and to the Sound by boat from st.
~ will make the trip alone. Two years ago
i went with a party from the lake 10 the ocean
and back. Last year ! went alone. l left the
landing May !, and landed at the mouth OF the
river July 80. The Mackenzie, from the lake, 10
from three 10 eight miles wide. Where IL 10
Joined by the Peel ii widens TO fifteen miles, and
at its mouth IL must be about sixty miles wide.
From lake TO ocean is about l.400 miles. There
are some bad places in the stream. OAe OF these
consists OF a succession OF dangerous rapids ex.
tending for 100 miles, that no one should at
tempt unless under tho direction OF an expert
enced guide. The current is strong and rapid.
The country through which the river runs 10
rolling and has considerable timber along tho
low places. There is considerable game, includ-
ing moose, caribou, sheep, birds. and MOSQUE
toes. The latter deserve 10 be classcd as game.
though the man is The hunted, not the hunter.
IN their case. In summer 1t Is hot along the
at rs and 30 degrees. The sun. OF course, shines
all summer, so there is no chance to cool of.
There is but one way to get back, and that 10
to draw your boat by a rope and walk along the
bank, a la canal boat. The Hudson's Bay Com
pGny operates an sO-foot boat from the mouth
OF Peel River TO Fort Smith. 200 miles this side
OF Great Slave Lake. but does not accept pas
sengers or freight. This company also has sta
tons every 200 or 800 miles along the river.
IL am simply going for pleasure. ! have been
twice on summer trips gathering heads OF moose.
elk, caribou, and Curios. While / used fire..
Quently TO pan out dirt along the river at places
whereI stopped, gold is not the object OF my
trip. You can get Two or three colors to the pan
almost anywhere, but | never stopped TO pros.
pect further.
My first trip was made in a l7-foot canoe OF
35 inches beam"