The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-28
n the shade of the high walls and in the

in the shade of the high walls and in the
not sun over the heated path, ever up. the
views open and after fifteen miles we see
the head of the canyon, which reminds one
OF how the head of Tuckerman's ravine in
the White mountains might look If it's rocky
walls were bare and dry. The head of
the gorge seems a solid perpendicular WALL
hundreds of feet high, yet away above its
upper rim we can trace the trail. We. keep
suddenly turn q sharp corner, pass through
a rent in the rocks called 1.-The hole in the
wall" mount steep zigzagging grade
and after a stiff climb are at the summit
of Turtle mountain, and an impressive view
bursts upon US. Mountains, crags, bare
cliffs. disintegrating rocks, wild chasms,
dark ravines appear, and here and there
patches of pine forests All about the sum-
NIT are stunted cedars; reminding us OF
these haunts on the Atlantic seaboard ia
miliar to our boyhood.
And now it is downward, downward along
the steep mountain SIDE among rocks and
lodges, into chasms and out, till one Won
ders how a path was ever found. Now we
reach a dry torrent bed, which we know
leads to Range valley, but it is many a
since leaving Price river, and that repul-
sive; it is August, the rocks are hot, the
air lifeless, heat intense and thirst increas-
ing; the water bottle had been forgotten;
it is twenty miles since leaving the river
and is miles yet to the creek. We begin to
understand what thirst on the burning
come out into a narrow canyon A string
of green cottonwoods and willows show
In6T6 Is water near DIT ndHu Lite HOISSS
rush forward and wade into the stream
We throw ourselves off, and. lying prone ON
the gravely margin, drink and drink and
battle our heads. Was ever water so sweet?
Now a couple of miles along this creek I'M
der tall cottonwoods, through thick willow
clumps with rye grass to the saddle, wild
rose bushes sage brush, ETC. The canyon
will not average a half mile in width. It's
walls are nearly perpendicular. from 800 to
500 feet high, sometimes overhanging. and
in many places we see where the cliff
dwellers had their homes; but the bottom
has rich soil. Now we enter field
through bars, sign of civilization, and ar are
dog who had been left at home joyously
greets us, the cats run out: 1t is noted that
enemy of the domestic cat, have been at
work. hens cackle showing that the preda-
tory coyotes have not got all; hogs
squeal thinking thirty hours a long time
to have been unfed; fine truck garden is
near at hand, a cellar full of milk; the
cabin of stores; and packs off; animals
taken. The cabins are of logs; huge rock
chimney with wide fireplace suggests Win
ter comfort the hunks over which hides
are stretched do not suggest downy beds:
but books and papers scattered ABOUT tell
that those far from haunts of civilization
are not always without the reality.
CLIMBING THE MOUNTAINS.
But even a hard bed gives refreshing
sleep, and in the morning off for
the summer range" with saddle horses and
a load bigger than herself, and it only
needs a call to the dog. Shorty. named from
his short legs. to make the mule jump, hav-
ing a wholesome fear that Shorty may bite
her feet. For miles we border the culti-
waited fields of the ranch, corn, potatoes, al
falfa, ETC., and proceed up the canyon, now
and then passing the mouth of side canyons,
or water courses for the discharge of the
spring torrents, then turn UP one Of them
and wind in and about the powders Of all
sizes. shapes anC age. Some have recently
fallen, one as big as a wagon having re-
Gently stopped in the middle of the path.
Now the walls are slightly sloping, covered
with pine trees and aSpens. We turn from
the gorge and boldly strike up this steep
ascent certainly as steep as the roof of
many Eastern houses; but it grows sleeper!
We dismount and lead our horses and stop
eye out for that dog, but because of his
hot climb his tongue SO fills his mouth
that II does not seem as though he could
bite. The path is straight up, then zigZag;
we look down and wonder how we ever got
up. After an hour of this we strike a
ridge of rock. follow it and suddenly come
out on a plain, prairie, rolling away for
miles, as far as eye can see. 1t is rich with
grass: herds Of cattle are under the aspen
stretches in western New York it looks
pastoral; and we imagine we must
soon see the farm buildings 20, OF
and we make slight descent, and pushed
under the hillside is log cabin with stone
chimney, corrals with post and rail fence
eight or nine feet high. and Just below a
spring Of water on which ice forms almost
every night. and about the log troughs of
which cattle are continually coming and
going There are hearty greetings from
the men, a roaring fire is started on the
hearth; a fry pan and an open bake ket-
tie are the two kitchen implements The
ranch garden below fun of sweet corn
and all manner of vegetables but the
BOSS" had not taken up a thing. and no
ore murmured. Fried bacon and hot bak-
ing-powder bread. the latter 'buttered'
with bacon fat with quantities of hot cof-
fee or tea, without milk. are the daily ra-
tons: they don't wish to be bothered
with vegetables When we entered the
cabin one of the hunks looked as though
a man was rolled up on It. When prepar-
ing for sleep one took the roll up in his
arms and hung it up by the legs? 1t was
a deers carcass and bacon was alternated
with venison Deer abound and conse-
quently bears. One night the men were
provoked by the dogs. as they thought. try