Griggs courier., 1897-01-15
GREAT SCENIC o.scovgav.


NoetAwestern Meatono oaxp Ahos Yoaes:
lowseoAs Rsssoa.
I'VE have discovered second and
greater Yosemite valley and a grander
National park than the Yellowstone, =
said Prof. L. w. CLANCY, of Carleton
college, Northtield, Minn., in telling
about his recent visit to Avalanche
basin, which he discovered last year III
the northwestern corner of Montana.
A year ago Prof. Clancy and some
other scientists, one of them a lecturer
on the natural scenery of the west,
found in the western part of Montana
u country which had seldom been seen
by man-red OF white. They hearsl
vague rumors of glacier valley, AMI
cut their way from the then newly
found Lake Mcdonald through the for
ests that crown the mountains.
\. They were told by the original settler
in the vicinity of this lake that year
hefore, in following up the slopes of
Brown peak, north of Lake Mcdonald.
with the idea that glaciers were to be
found, he had seen not only glacier,
hut also beautiful valley and lake
lew to the world.
The scientists found the basin and
lake, and, by reason of the constants
roar of avalanches, they named the VAL
ley Avalanche basin, and spent as long
u time us their provisions would allow
in searching the beauties of the spot.
They had no instruments and were un-
able to get any measurements.
They determined to return at this
| r1so ho.y Hnx
now done, armed with all needed instru.
ments, to make u thorough investiga-
ton. In the meantime others have
been to Avalanche basin, and the trail
from kalispel has been SO chopped out
that u woman--Mrs. j. H. Edwards, OF
that place-has made the perilous trip.
Some of the dozen or more men who
have seen the basin have been world-
wide travellers, and declare that there
is nothing in the Swiss mountains or in
the most famed resorts of Europe that
can compare with it. The valley is u
scenic gem set Ill a frame of cloud
touching peaks, and is unrivaled in it's
brilliancy and natural interest, but
owing to the purity of the atmosphere
Ind the consequent impossibility Of
getting distance in the view it is impos-
sible to make q photograph that will
show adequately the beauties of the
region.
Lake Mcdonald is located in th.s
northwestern portion of Montana, about
rs miles from the little mountain town
ci Kalispe]. 1t is 16 miles in length.
four or five miles wide, at an altitude of
Is1, ,1o <N{
Its mirroring effect is more sharply
defined than is that of the famous Mir
ror lake of California, and it reflects
the forests of the surrounding noun
. tain slopes so clearly that the narrow.
sharply-defined beach of smoothly-pol-
ished gravel is the only indication of
where the reflections begin and the for
est ends. From Lake Mcdonald tho
trail through the mountain extends t.,
TIE northward about Is miles, up the
rocky sleeps, and at the last cuts
, through gorge of crimson Jasper
, quartzite, in which are many deep cas-
cades.
Suddenly, and without warning, one
energies on the shores of Avalanche
lake and into valley of the most sub.
! lime and impressive grandeur. The
way has been hard and the climbing
difficult, but the end repays it all.
The basin is more than 500 feet high-
er than Lake Mcdonald, and the SUR
rounding rocks tower in almost per-
pendicular wall for from 1000 to GOOD
feet higher. Rising here and there
above the general level of the wall Of
rock are various peaks. The discover
, ers have named one the Matterhorn,
and it's altitude is 1000 feet above the
level of the lake; another has been
called the Cathedral Dome. from its re-.
scmblancc to the dome of st. Peters.
as seen from the campagni, and it rises
about 4,500 feet; third has been called
the Sphinx. and fourth the Castle.
The last rise to height of over 10000
feet above the sea. Down the sides of
these walls cascades fall ut heights
varying from thousands to about 400
feet, breaking in foam on the lake be-
low, and filling the valley with the roar
of Niagara. =.
The basin is nearly two miles long
and nearly the same in width. In it's
center is Avalanche lake. three-fourtl,s
CT a mile in length and half mile wide.
It's waters when seen from the shoe,
are of u turquoise blue, but when
looked down upon they are as clear al
crystal, even more so than those Of
Lake Superior, and the rainbow anil
mountain trout lying in their depths
canreadily be seen.
The upper end of the basin is abou.
two miles east of the entrance, and
plunging down the precipitous rocks
are some dozen mountain streams,
forming series of beautiful, cascades
and cataracts. All are fed from tho
enows of the mountains, and they are
large and small according as the sun
has had an opportunity to melt the
SHOWS. Avalanches have cut their way
down the slopes and have left their
gashes on the surrounding cliffs.
North from Avalanche basin to the
British line the scenery is of the grand
eat IT, riva1s ~ IL d0pa NOT surro ~