Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-10-19
A SIERRA CAMPING TRIP.
Mr. Editor.


utensils, provisions ETC., we made the
start from Corning. In this country
our outfit and people would go by the
name of "wagon tramps." We were
name Of Plateau, which l will describe
later. Plateau, IL about eighty miles
northwest Of Corning. Our course to
Red Bluff, the county seat OF Lehama
county was on good turnpike road
with large ranches on either side.
Some of these contain several thousand
acres. While passing through the
Bluffs one of our party, Baptist
minister of English descent, who
seemed to have a fearful dread of
rattlesnakes stepped into drug store
and came out with a bottle very neat
ly covered with a paper. Some one
OF the party inquired, "What have
you there?" He replied "Wiskey, for
snake bites" Here a little way out
of town we csmped for dinner. We
took one hour and thirty minutes for
refreshments and were soon on the
road for Cottonwood. Here we had
nine miles grade to make. Some of
the way the road winds around the
Bluffs like pair of spiral stairs. We
arrived at Cottonwood at 8 D. To-,
drove through town to fine camping
ground, hoisted tents, partook of
late supper and all were willing to
sleep, having covered a distance of
forty miles. The next morning at
8 a. M, We we're on the road. Talk
about dust, when we struck the old
Shingletown road where about seven
ty-fve lumber teams make daily trips
the fine dust was from eight to twelve
inches deep. Imagine riding where
every time horse put down a foot
the dust would rise above his head
and nearly smother the occupants of
the vehicle. Six miles from Cotton
wood we crossed the Sacramento
river at Balls Ferry. At noon we
took dinner at Battle Greek, South
Fork. In the afternoon we passed
over several miles of lava rock and at
night camped at Spring Branch. One
has to look out for water in this coun-
try. We found none from noon until
we struck our camping ground. There
we found small stream and spring of
rather warm water. 1t is a regular
camping place for there is no water
either side for distance of ten miles.
There is small hut where ueamsters
keep hay for their teams. About
midnight when all was quiet in camp
coyote gave several sharp barks a
short distance from camp. Well, out
came the ladies tumbling over each
other screaming "Wolves!" "Mouu-
tain lions!" "Wild cats!" "Bears!"
etc. "Get out the guns, quick!" We
seized the guns and circled around
camp, but the intruder had disap-
peared and we heard no more only
the hum of the mosquitoes which
nearly devoured US. At a. m. we
were off for Manton, travelling over a
desolate alkali plain. On this plain
we passed several carcasses of cattle
and sheep that had died on the trail.
We crossed Battle Creek for the Sec
ond time and took dinner at Cold
| Spring. This was the first natural
cold water 1 have seen since | came
to California. About five O'Clock we
reached Manton. Here is where the
California Electrical Power Co. have
their plant. Here we saw some fine
apple orchards. The people seemed
to be very friendly and quite willing
to make 1t pleasant for strangers.
From Manton to Plateau is a distance
of eight miles by road but only four
by trail. The rise is about fifteen
hundred feet. The Baptist minister
and my son Ray took the trail and
arrived at Plateau about IL a. m. Mr..
Sy monds and myself with the family
took the wagon road. Here we again
climbed the spiral stairs. Talk about
hills! The old ShiDgletown hill is
the corporal of all hills. We took
dinner by fine cold stream of water
and on arriving at Plateau we found
the elder and Ray running the post
office and store, having taken the
oath of Office so "a to officiate while
the postmaster was absent a few
hours. We were just nine hours
making the eight miles. Driving into
the pine woods and making camp be-
side an irrigatiDg ditch of fine cold
water we soon had our tents hoisted
and were ready for business. Plateau
Is about 1000 feet above sea level and
consists OF post-office, store, two
dwellings,, several barns and a small
church. There are several houses and
a schoolhouse not far from the town
| proper Here ua foupd savarol 6alos