The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-01-07
CHEAT SCENIC DISCOVERY.
Northwestern Montana Surpasses the Yell
lowstone Region.

greater Yosemite valley and grander
National park than the Yellowstone"
said Prof. l.. w. CLANCY, of Carleton |
COLLEGE, Mortified, Mimi, in telling |
abott his recent visit to Avalanche |
basil which he discovered last year in |
the iprthwestern corner of Montana.
A ear ago Prof. CLANCY and some |
othe scientists, one of them lecturer
on the natural scenery of the west,
found in the western part of Montana
country which had seldom been seen
by MANFRED or white. They heard
vague rumors of a glacier valley, and
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
before, 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,
but also a beautiful valley and lake
new to the world.
The scientists found the basin and
lake, and, by reason of the constant
roar of avalanches, they named the val
ley Avalanche basin, and spent as long
time as their provisions would allow
in searching the beauties of the spot.
TheS Mad no instruments and were UNI
able to get any measurements,
They determined to return at the
earliest opportunity. This they have
now done, armed with all needed instru-
ments, to make thorough investiga-
ton, In the meantime Others have
been to Avalanche basin, and the trail
from Kahspel has been so chopped out
that a woman-Mrs. j. II. 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
scenic gem set in a frame OF cloud
J touching peaks, and is unrivaled in its
brilliancy and natural interest, but
owing to the purity of the atmosphere
and the consequent impossibility OF
getting distance in the view it is imPos'
sible to make a photograph that Will
show adequately the beauties of the
V region.
:. Lake Mcdonald is located in the
r northwestern portion of Montana, about
9 IS miles from the little mountain town
= of Kalispel. 1t is 16 miles in length
r four or five miles wide, at an altitude Of
" about 5000 feet, and as clear as crystal
=, Its mirroring effect is more sharply
i defined than is that of the famous Mir
. ror lake of California, and it reflect!
d the forests of the surrounding noun
tain slopes so clearly that the narrow
r. sharplv-defined beach of smoothly-pol
l. ished gravel is the only indication o
e where the reflections begin and the for
est ends. From Lake Mcdonald tn
a trail through the mountain extends t
l. tie northward about IS miles, up tn
IF rocky sleeps, and at the last cut
# through a gorge of crimson jaspe
d quartzite, in which are many deep cas-
TX Cades.
"A Suddenly, and without warning, on
energies on the shores of Avalanch
70 lake and into a valley of the most sui
Or lime and impressive grandeur. TIL
70 way has been hard and the climbin
" difficult, but the end repays it all.
= The basin is more than 500 feet higl
TX er than Lake Mcdonald, and the SUI
he rounding rocks tower in almost pc
he pendicular wall for from 5000 to 6,0(
ed feet higher. Rising here and thei
he above the general level of the wall I
er rock are various peaks. The discove
ers have named one the Matterhor
lie and it's altitude is 1000 feet above Il
ne level of the lake; another has bee
called the Cathedral Dome. from its r
all semblance to the dome of St. Peter
nd as seen from the campagni, and it ris
about 4,500 feet; third has been callC
ed the Sphinx, and fourth the CAST
Al. The last rise to height Of over 100
I'm feet above the sea. Down the sides
lie these walls cascades fall at heigh
varying from thousands to about 4
We. feet, breaking in foam on the lake /
nv low, and filing the valley with the TO
ed of Niagara.
- The basin is nearly two miles lol
and nearly the same in width. In
center is Avalanche lake, three-fOurt
-, Its waters when seen from the sho
are of a turquoise blue, but VIII
his looked down upon they are as clear
f., crystal. even more so than those
,e Lake Superior, and the rainbow a
ton mountain trout lying in their dept
me can readily be seen.
ell The upper end of the basin is abe
1th two miles east of the entrance, a
i'm plunging down the precipitous roc
loo are some dozen mountain strear
forming a series of beautiful! cascaC
IF and cataracts. All are fed from
-ht. SHOWS of the mountains, and they {
ms large and small according as the S
ter has had an opportunity to melt
tn SHOWS. Avalanches have cut their W
led down the slopes and have left tn
gashes on the surrounding cliffs.
,ict North from Avalanche basin to
British line the scenery is of the graz
WV est. 1t rivals if it does not surp
ne6 that to be found in the Selkirks and
ie the Canadian Rockies. Glaciers abOu
and about 30 miles north of AvalanC
the is one Of the greatest to be found
ant America.-N. Y. Sun.