The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-01-15
LETTER FROM oRALE HESS
A Trip Among the Mountains Of South.
ern California.

is located in Strawberry Valley. RIVER
side county. CAL, among the San
Jacint0 Mountains, at an elevation of
525 feet. 1t may rightly be called
Southern California S Alpine resort, as
all nature seems to smile down upon
it, as it lies among the pine woods,
and the snow covered mountain
peaks.
AT Helmet we leave the train to take
a stage, and are soon carried away
from the busy world among the echo
ing hills. Along the mountain road
for many miles is a vladuct, carrying
an immense amount of water from
the Hemet Dam to the valley below.
AS we pass along the mountain
road, we notice the Oak and Sycamore
trees are destitute of foliage, while
the Cotton wood trees, seem to dis
play all the brilliant tints of heaven.
Up the canyon these trees may be
seen mingling among the Pine, Cedar,
Spruce and Fir trees as ray of SUM-
light among clouds.
1t is long after sunset when we
reach ldyllwiId and the atmosphere
has become SO cool that wraps are very
But as we near the
hotel and looking SO coy, we are con-
fident of warmth and life within.
There is no direction in which one
may turn, but what there is some
scene of interest. At a distance of
three miles from the hotel, Inspiration
Point may be reached on foot or horse
back-with but little exertion, and
here you may view the valleys below
and the coast range in the dist
ance. Just below, you may see Cold
Water canyon-which is many feet
deep, being lined with mammoth
bouIders and stately pines, through
which runs a dancing sparkling
stream.
Another trip may be taken to the
'spainted rock" immense, with the
fat side painted in dark red, to
an Indian blanket design.
This was no doubt painted'lbv some
Indian many years ago. 1t is about
six feet square and though dimmed by
rain and snow may be seen very dis.
tinctly.
A portion of another day may be
well spent in taking trip to the
Helmet Dam which is the largest dam
in the world and showing wonderful
piece of mechanism. The dam is 600
feet deep and as you wind about the
mountains up to the structure and
isok down the canyon, there you see
the wonderful works Of nature SEEM
ingly in rivalry with the works OF
man.
The dam is ten miles from ldyll-
wild and we make the trip on horse
back also making visit to the
Thomas Ranch, which is about three
miles off our road, and which is one
of the. oldest and largest mountain
ranches in Southern California.
The original settlers were an Indian
Squaw and a Spaniard, the children of
whom are now living upon the ranch.
A large number of cattle are raised on
this ranch, and a short time ago the
finest of race horses were dealt with
largely.
Tanquitz may be seen directly back
OF the hotel and reaches a height of
5000 feet. Tanquitz is an Indian
name meaning devil and the Indians
living in the near neighborhood
solemnly believe that the mountain is
inhabited by the deyil. They will
not be convinced that it is void of life,
but describe it. as a nefarious mon-
ster, which when angered-will sur
round itself with fire aud smoke.
Tanquitz may be reached by horse
back in day, by following a winding
and at some places narrow trail.
After having heard the many legend
airy tales of the mountain, one
comes to look upon it as being severe
ly majestic.
But among the many points Of in
terest about Idyllwild, San Jacinto
Peak seems to surpass them. all reach
ing a height of 10, 400 feet and being
sixteen miles from Idyllwild. The
summit is reached by steep and dificult
trails taking two days to make the
round trip. AS YOU ascend the
mountain you may look out across
the valley and see Elsinor Lake lying
between the hills and the coast range.
And far beyond the coast range may
be seen the peaceful waters Of the
Pacifc-the surface being broken by
San Clement aud Eanto Catolina Is
lands.
Ascending further you come to
Tanquitz Meadow-whose beautiful