The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12

Picture of the Scenic Beauties of
the Queen Lake of the Rocky
Mountains.
The Lake Mcdonald country, in the.
Rocky mountains of Northwestern Mon
tana is in many respects the most
beautiful and delightful of all Ameri
can mountain regions, The lake itself
from nearly every point of estimate is
a gem of the first quality, and has ap-
propriately been called THE Queen
Lake of the Rockies" In size it is sec
ond only to Yellowstone lake, while in
! beauty of surface and setting it is sec
ond to none. 1t is about eighteen miles
long by from three to four miles wide,
with gracefully indented shores, and
it is so deeply set in the enclosing
mountains that its surfase is but a lit
/ tie over 5000 above sea level. Its dep h
is still unknown QS9), and it's waters.
which are born of neighboring snow
fields and glaciers, and come in con-
| tact only with GRANTEES and quartzites
as they flow to the lake, are cold and
remarkably transparent. No storms or
! freshets disturb the clearness of Lake
| Mcdonald
Dense forests, comprised largely of
pine, fir, tamarack and cedar, cover
the encircling mountain sides from the
very waters edge up to an altitude of
about 5000 feet above the lake. These
/ forests display countless shades of
green, and their reflection in the lake
are surprisingly clear and enchanting.
Along both sides of the lake the near
est mountain ridges are forest-clad to
their submits; but, standing guard
! close behind the front ranges, rugged
stately peaks and massive serrated
walls of stratified quartzites pierce the
! timber line and lift their heads from
1900 to 5000 feet above the zone of
vegetation. Around the head of the
| lake the peaks of the nearest noun
tains rise abruptly and grandly to a
height of from 1000 to 10000 feet above
sea level, while many of the mighty
peaks beyond them rise still higher,
and with their frosty fingers pinch the
passing clouds till they start the tears,
sometimes even to copiousness.
Nestled between the various closely
huddled ranges and peaks of this re-
gion are scores of perpetual snow
| fields, living glaciers, icy lakes, laugh
ing streams, leaping cascades, stately
cataracts, labyrinthine gorges, noun
tain parks, fiowery hooks, grassy
slopes, capacious valleys and deep dig
nified basins, each the habitual home
or the occasional resort of such beasts,
birds or fish as find the conditions con-
genial.
FOREST RESERVE BEAUTIES.
The more one explores and studies
this section of the Rockies the more
profoundly is he impressed by the
amount and variety of instructive
|
phenomena that center here Fortu-
nately the government has made a for
est reserve of the region, and is pre-
| pairing to protect it's t1mbers from the
ravages Of fire. as well as from theft
or destruction by man. Of course, the
main reasons for establishing the res
ervation lie in the beneficent Influences
on precipitation, drainage and climate
which the forests Inevitable exert; but
the region has other values which it
is hoped may soon become generally
recognized and more fully appreciated
by the American people. This section
of the Rocky mountains will eventual
| ly become much frequented summer
resort. not only for lovers of delight
| full scenery and students of natural
science, but also for those who need
rest from the distracting and killing
influences of the madding crowd"
The altitude of the lake being but
little over 5000 feet above sea level, it
follows that the atmosphere is suf-
| flcient dense to insure easy respira-
ton and an abundance of oxygen. even
to those whose lung capacity is some
| what diminished by muscular weak
ness. general enervation, catarrhal af-
| fections. bad habits in breathing, or
| actual lung disease. But, notWith-
| standing the moderate altitude, the air
is as pure and bracing as can be
found in the rarer aumospheres of
| much higher attitudes further South.
| Oppressive atmospheric conditions are
| practically unknown about the shores
| of Lake Mcdonald. For high or un-
pleasant winds one must climb to
| higher levels, and even there the air
is not irritating. But the great range
of attitudes in the immediate vicinity,
and the varied exposures and in
fiuences resulting from the close proX-
unity of high peaks, large snow fields,
deep valleys and Sun-Warmed noun
tain slopes insure such a constant cir
culation of the atmosphere that life
less or unpleasant lung-food is un-
known. Mineral dust. pollen from
Towering vegetation and those obscure
conditions which aggravate catarrh,
asthma, hay fever, insomnia and kin
dred ailments are Conspicuous by
their absence" In their stead the air
has an abundance Of deliciously blend
ed balsamic eXhalations from the conf
erous forests, and is also so delicately
charged with ozone that it soothes.
| heals and invigorateS more surely and
more rapidly than any other atmos-
| pheric conditions with which the writ
er is familiar. Those who for any rea-
sons prefer higher attitudes can find
close at hand whatever they may seek,
even to a height of 1900 feet above
the sea.
Delightful camping grounds with ex-
tensive and charming mountain seem
cry, scientific problems without limit,
timber for shelter, dry fuel for camp
purposes and feed for pack and saddle
animals are abundant at attitudes
ranging from 1000 to 5000 feet above
sea level. and all within few miles
Of the head of Mcdonald lake.
ON SPERRY GLACIER.
'Hotel Glacier" a plain but comfor-
table stopping place at the east shore
of the lake and about two miles from
its head, furnishes accommodation for
those who want to remain for a time
at the lake, and is also good starting
point for parties going into the noun
tains. There are also comfortable cab
in resorts, both at the head and the
foot of the lake. Saddle and pack
horses and guides are furnished at rea-
Sonable rates. From Hotel Glacier
a seven-mile trail takes one to "Gla-
cier Camp" in Beulah basin, which is
about $500 feet higher than the lake,
or $500 feet above sea level. This
camping place furnishes all the natural
attractions and conditions necessary
for protracted stay. From this point
ali hours climb takes one over Co
meaus pass to the southern edge Of
cr1o onin Ny,;e,