The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-08-21
Beautiful Lake Mcdonald Described
BY Writer in N. W. Magazine
CRYSTAL DEPTHS OF THE LAKE
Pellucid Sheet Of Water Well Known
to Montanians as Beautiful as Can
Be Found in the Wide, Wide
World.

tAot SCCtlou VI Vic INoChlSS lying III
the northW est corner of the state of
Montana. the more profoundly he is
impressed by the amount and variety
Of instructive, batutiful and wonder
frl objects and phenomena which
center there. This section of the
Rocky mountains is becoming a much
frequented summer resort. not only
for lovers of delightful scenery and
students of natural sciences. but al
so for those who need rest from the
distracting and killing influences of
the 'madding crowd"
The altitude of the lakes being but
little over 5000 feet above the sea
level the atmosphere is sufficiently
dense to insure easy respiration and
those whose lung capacity is consid-
erably diminished. Notwithstanding
the moderate altitude. the air is as
pure and bracing as can be found in
the rarer atmosphere of much higher
altitude further south. Oppressive
atmospheric conditions ara practical
ly unknown about the shores of Lake
-"N'oAaib' HS SiNol ioASS VI diIi-
tude in the immediate vicinity. and
the varied exposures and influences
resulting from the close proximity
of high peaks, large snow fields, deep
valleys and sun-crOwned mountain
slopes, insure such a circulation of
the atmosphere that lifeless or un-
pleasant lung food is unknown. These
oh TO a pC1,
asthma. hay fever. insomnia and kim
dred ailments are conspicuous by
their absence.
In their stead the air hts an abund-
ance of deliciously blended balsalmic
eXhalatiOns from the cOniferous for
ests. and is SO delicately charged
with ozone that 1t soOths. heals and
invigorates surely and rapidly. These
who for any reason prefer higher al
titudes can find close at hand what
ever they may seek even to height
of 10000 feet above the sea.
Delightful camping grounds with
extensive and charming mountain
scenery. scientific problems without
limit. timber for shelter. dry fuel for
SADDLE animals are abundant at alti-
tudes ranging from 1000 to 5000 feet
above sea level and all within few
miles of the head of Lake Mcdonald.
AS We emerge from the dense fol,
ests of fir and cedar and look north.
ward across the sixteen miles which
measure the length of the bewitch-
inc mo, MT Al n,i,rOr | ol<p NcIloOolI
our delight becomes intense. We
are over 5000 feet above the level of
the sea. breathing the most .nvigor.
ating mountain air. and looking upon
body of water as cletr as crystal
and as pure as the Creators chemis-
try can make it.
The average width of the lake is
between four ana five miles and it's
outline is quite regular for noun
tain lake. The exact depth Of the
lake is unknown though the guides
tell us that rope has been let down
1900 feet without touching bottom
This charming body of water is com
pletely gilt by mountains which rise
on the southern portion of the lake
to 1000 feet or more above the sur
face and are forest clad to their sum-
mits. At the north end of this lake
the mountains spring more abruptly
from the general level and attain a
much higher altitude. their rocky
snow dotted heights stretching well
above the timber line. Between and
beyond the peaks which rise so alb
ruptly near the head of the lake we
see other peaks, walls. domes and
ranges which an experienced noun
taineer at once recognizes as much
higher and more rugged than those
nearer by. All" you excaim
There is real grandeur yonder."
The views from the steamer f. I
whitney as we speed nowhward are
more than SatisfactOry-theya are tru
1y delightful. We are floating over
of mountain valley. whose graceful
rising slopes of dark green conifers
tlfcked here and there by the lighter
green of few dscidious trees, are
reflected with a delicacy of color ant
sharpness of detail almost as perfec,
as that which characterizeS the rea
mountain sides. Few bodies of water
give such clear and charming reflec
tions as are seen in Lake Mcdonald
It's surface is entirely destitute q
rushes or other vegetation. The beacl
of clear. polished gravel is so narrow
and so sharply defined as to appear
Ike delicate ribbon drawn to indi
cate where the real forests end anC
the reflections begin. Among the re
servoirs of the Rockies. Lake Nc
I'onald is clearly the queen. Glacier
house, plain but comfortable stop
ping house at the east shore of the
, lake and about two miles from the
had furnishes .a.,1ox,,r,ax,la4;oxrf Co.