The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-07-28
THE EDITORIAL EXCURSIONS
concluded from last week.

From Regina we travelled all night and a
day Sunday, getting breakfast at Medicin
hat, dinner at Calgary and supper at Banf
sunday afternoon we began to see dim out
lines OF the mountains $50 miles away an
only those who have never seen mountain
before can appreciate the eagerness wit
which we scanned the horizon for a glimps
OF the famous Rockies. In the meantim
we had left the level prairies and beyond til
Calgary the landscape becomes more an
more broken, the hills rising in successiv
terraces, with tops as level as a floor. A
one point we saw flock of sheep winding
down the hillside in an unbroken strear
nearly mile long. And when late in tn
afternoon we rose suddenly up to where th
snowclad peaks of the Rockies we're plainly
visible above and beyond the ranges of hill
EXPLANATIONS of delight aud wonder wer
heard on all sides. And then how slowly W,
seemed to approach them though steamin.
along at the rate of 80 miles per hour. Fo
several miles the track skirts the Bow Tivel
and at the entrance to the mountains the
train halted long enough to give us an oppor-
tunity to view the magnificent kananaskis
| falls of the Bow river. From this point OF
the mountains rise abruptly on each side OF
the track in great masses streaked and cap
ped with snow and ice, and the railroad
winds and twists around and between these
mountains, continually mounting higher and
higher. and with each step presenting new
and grander view of it's huge environs. The
excursion partly reached Banff, twenty miles
from the Gap where we entered the noun
tainS at IL O'Clock Sunday evening and pro.
ceded to the hotel for supper From tie
station we could clearly see the lights of the
hotel twnkllng through the trees apparently
about quarter of a mile away but it proved
to be as long mile and a half as we ever
walked, affording o very practical example
of our inability to judge distances in the
mountains. Bantf is fayorite summer
resort. $500 feet above the sea level. 1t is
famous chiefly for its hot sulphur spring, but
possesses many other charming features in the
way of mountain scenery. drives. etc. On our
return trip we took breakfast here remaining
four hours to enable the editors to try the
baths and visit some points of interest. The
writer picked twenty distinct varieties of
wild flowers in the course of a mile walk from
the government sulphur springs basin to the
station. Our train laid over at Banffs till )
o'clock next morning i'm order to have the
whole day in the mountains, and what day
it was. For forty miles beyond Banff, and
for some distance before reaching that station
the railroad skirts the banks of rushing COR
rent, following its sinuous curves. now on this
side now on that, crossing and reero ssing the
stream many times, and often run.
ming along on an embankment only wide
enough for the track, whose foundation is
protected against the turbulent waters
by ritf-raf of rocks and logs. And then,
those wonderful Rocky mountains OF which
very turn in the track presents a new view.
The pass becomes narrower till the huge
masses of Scared rock tipped with masses of
snow and ice, seem to rise at our very feet,
though our excellent guide book prepared by
he Canadian Pacific Railway, tells us that
hey are still two miles away. At first we
ome new and unexpected view draws forth
'xclamatiOns of wonder and delight from
members of the party. but we cannot possibly
zee both sides OF the track at once, and try to
ontent ourselves with the everchanging view
rom one window. AT Stephen we rea oh
he highest point in the mountains on this
inc of railroad, where small rushing
torrent separates just beside the
rack into two streams, one flowing to
Iudson's Bay and the other into the Pacific
cean. This is the "Great Divide" and it's |
ltitude 5,296 feet. From here the line de- |
cends rapidly, 1,150 feet in the next ten miles,
ut not so abruptly as the Kicking Horse |
liver which is soon 1000 feet below us ana one |
eeds only to remember that it drops over !
0O0 feet within less than ten miles TO realize |
hat q magnificent succession OF raoi&s and
ataracts its course presents, while the beau
full prospect is made yet more eutrancing by
le hundreds of small streams which come
lunglng down the mountain sides to join the
ream Away up on the mountains these
tile streams look like streaks OF snow. but
} they approach nearer the snowy T-lljteness |
seen to be the spray of the madly dashing
alter. We breakfasted at Field favorite
opping place for tourists situated at the
ase of Mount Stephen. From the hotel
eranda it seems but step to the base of the
ountain and you would almost swear that
Itch OF snow near its top is not over mile
stant but we were told by one who made
e ascent the day before that it took three
ours of rapid travel to reach the hotel from
at same bank of snow which is not less than
n miles away on bee line. One gets q slight
inception of the peculiar effect OF the noun
in atmosphere by standing on the platform
the rear car of IL swiftly moving train. In
cad of receding the mountains appear to !
How close on your heels and frequently a
fly peak which has been hidden from view
Z lower but nearer one seems to lift ITSELF
, into the sky as the receding train brings it
sight The effect is truly awe Inspiring.
few miles beyond Fields the Kicking Horse
nyon, most appropriately named, where
r seveLal miles the river and the railroad
sputa the passage. Here the mountain sides
come vertical, rising straight up thousands
feet, and within an easy stones throw from
Ill to wall. Down the vast chasm go the
iway and river together thc former eros.
ig from side to side TO legos cut ou5of tile
lid rock, and twisting and turning in every
rection, and every minute or two plunging
rough projecting angles OF rock which
EN- t0close the way. Lit is worth the whole
lp to go through this terrible gorge. Then
g train suddenly energies into daylight and
, are in the valley between tic r. 3cf<i les and
e Selkirk. Travelling fifty iniies we have /,
scenGed over 27C0 feet and now begin ,
climb the Selkfrks along the bank of the
'lumba river which is left after few miles
d we skirt the bank of the Beaver, rising
thecratc OF 116 feet to the mile 5ill the
'eam is left thousand feet below, Winding
)ng in the valleylille silver thread through | |
iensely wooded valley. while opposite is a
70 of tree clad hills, with occasional snow
vered heads above the timber. i.le ana we
2 soon in the midst OF even more nagnii- I