The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-02-05
A NEW YOSEMITE.
Travellers Make a Great Discovery
in Montana
Scenery In the Sorthwestern Part OF ths
state Grander Than That Of
the National Park OF the
Yellowstone.

Yellowstone.
We have discovered a second and
greater Yosemite valley and grander
National park than the Yellowstone"
said Prof. l. W Clancy, of Carleton
college. Northfield, Mimi, in telling
about his recent visit To Avalanche
basin, which ne discovered last year ia
the northwestern corner of Montana.
\ year ago Prof. CLANCY and some
other scientists, one OF them d lecturer
on the natural scenery of the wess,
found in the western part of Montana
a country which had seldom been seen
10y 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 a glacier,
hut also a beautiful valley and lake
Lew to the world.
The scientists found the basin and
lake, and, 10y reason OF the constant
roar of avalanches, they named the val
ley Avalanche basin, and spent as long
Il time as their provisions would allow
ia searching the beauties Of the spot.
They had no instruments and were un-
able to get any measurements
They determined TO return at the
earliest opportunity This they have
Il,
ments, to make thorough investiga-
ton. In the meantime others have
been 10 Avalanche basin, and the trail
from kalispel has been so chopped out
that woman-Mrs. }. 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
i nothing in the Swiss mountains or ia
the most famed resorts of Europe that
can compare with II. The valley is
scenic gem set IN frame of cloud
touching peaks. and Is unrivaled in its
hrilliancy and natural interest, but
owing to the purity of the atmosphere
and the consequent imPoSsibility of
getting Instance IN the view IL Is impos-
S,ble TO make a photograph that viii
show adequately the beauties OF the
region
Lake Mcdonald Is located in the
northwestern portion OF Montana. about
= miles from the little mountain town
of Kal.spel- It iS l6 miles in length.
/ four or five miles wide. al an altitude of
about 5000 feet, and as clear As crystal.
Its mirroring effect i more sharply
/ i. II. a.
! ror lake of California, and il reflects
the forests of the surrounding noun
tain slopes so clearly that the narrow
| sharpIy-defined beach of smoothly-pol-
ished gravel l. the only Indication OF
where the reflections begin and the for
| est ends. From Lake Mcdonald the
trail through the mountain extends Ia
the northward about Is miles, up tbs
rocky sleeps. and at the last cuts
| through a gorge of crimson jasper
| quartzite, in which are many deep cas-
Cades.
Suddenly, and without warning, on'
Cmerges on the shores Of Avalanch'
lake and into a valley of the most sub
lime and impressive grandeur. Th'
way has been hard and the Climbiu:
| difficult. but the end repayS IL all
The basin is more than 500 feet high
ct than Lake Mcdonald. and the sur
! rounding rocks tower in almost A per
pendicular wall for from 5000 to 600
feet higher. Rising here and ther
above the general level Of the wall o
rock are various peaks. The discover
ers have named one the MatterhorT
and its altitude * 1000 feet above tn
| e Hal- haS
called the Cathedral Dome. from its Tt
semblanee TO the dome of st. Peter
as seen from the campagni. and il rise
about 400 feet: third has been ealle
the Sphinx. and a fourth the Castl
The last rise to a height of over 1000
feet above tbs. sea Down the sides {
these walls cascades fall at height
varying from thousands to about Il
feet. breaking in foam on the lake b
low. and filling the valley with the rol
of Niagara.
The basin is nearly two miles Ion
and nearly the same in width In i
center is Avalanche lake, three-fourtl
cf a mile in length and half a mile wild
! Its waters when seen from the sho
are of a turquoise blue, but whs
looked down upon they are as clear
! crystal. even more 50 than those
Lake Superior. and the rainbow al
mountain trout lying in their dept,
can readily be seen
The upper end of the basin Is abo
two miles east of the entrance. 81
plunging down the PERCEPTIONS rec
are some dozen mountain stream
forming a series of beautiful cascad
and cataracts. All are fed from I
SHOWS Of the mountains. and they =
large and small according as the -
has had an opportunity 20 melt 4
SHOWS Avalanches have cut their "a
down the slopes and have left the
cashes on the surrounding cliffs
North from Avalanche basin TO q
British line the scenery Is of the gran
est II rivals If Il does not surpa
that TO be found in the Selkirks and
.he Canadian Rockies. Glaciers aboun
and about 30 miles north of Avalanc-
is one Of the greatest to be found
American " Sun