The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-09-12
EXPLORERS
RETURNED
EXPEDITION OVER THE RED
LoDGE-PARK ROAD.
FAVORABLE REPORT MADE
Members Believe Highway Plan Is
FeasibIe-Much Grand Scenery
En- Route.
FAVORABLE REPORT MADE
trom Mondays Daily.

4 pIOH MOHudy s Ddlly.
The Billings-Red Lodge party who
have been blazing the trail for the
new wagon road from Red Lodge con-
Meeting with the Soda Butte road in
the National park, returned home Sat
urday after most delightful and pro-
fitable trip. The Billings contingent
was away just nine days and in addi-
tion to having the time of their lives,
they thoroughly investigated the mer-
it's Of the proposition and report the
proposed route not only feasible but
dec!are that the new road will open
up wonders that will make the Red
Lodge road to the park the most de-
sirable of the different routes leading
| into Wonderland.
For many years the people of Red
Lodge have talked of building a road
into Yellowstone park, but the project
received no organized support until
this year. Learning through John D..
| Losekamp that w. T. Clark and A.
Buchanan OF this city contemplated
such trip this summer, the Red
Lodge Board of Trade extended them
an invitation to make the trip as their
guests including in the invitation a
committee of the Commercial club of
this city A committee of the Board
OF Trade visited this city last June
and presented the matter at a special
meeting of the Commercial club and
received the assurance of the local
organization that Billings would exert
its influence towards having the road
built. The original date of the trip
was fixed at August 20, but this was
later changed to September 1.
The party started from Red Lodge
a week ago last Friday. Those who
went from Billings we're Messrs. A.
Buchanan, secretary of the Montana
Business mems League, John B. Ar
nold cashier of the First National
bank, G. F. Burla, county treasurer,
L. E. Berkin of the Vogue Cloth
ing company, and Chas. Greenfield,
Sheriff Potter and Walter Anderson OF
Red Lodge accompanied the party the
first day to Mirror lake at the head
of Rock Fork canyon and then re-
turned home on account of stress OF
business. Mr.. Hawkes., the Red Lodge
photographer, accompanied the party
and made some fine views. Oliver
Paulsell acted as chief guide and was
assisted by Mart Ross, Leonard
Barnes, John McIntire and Bert Hell
mer, all expert craftsmen. 1t took q
horses to convey the party and effects
on the journey, and on this account
the progress of the outfit through the
rough country was naturally much
slower than it would have been with
smaller pack outfit.
From Red Lodge to the park line
the distance is a matter of a trif1e less
than So miles aus the crow flies, but
over the crooked trail made by the
Indians and first hunters who visited
this region it is perhaps twice as
many miles. There is now Wagon
road running from Mammoth Hot
Springs to point above Cooke City
1t is known as the Soda-Butte road
and the projected road will connect
Red Lodge with this road. After
leaving Red Lodge the party trailet
up Rocky Fork creek for about q
miles, passing the beautiful Mirro
lake on the way. Coming out on th'
high plateau just west of the canyon
: the trail leads over point over 10,0O'
feet above sea level. From this point
mountain ranges hundreds of mile
distant can be plainly seen with th'
naked eye. 1t is the grandest pano
rama of mountain scenery in tht
country and far surpasses in magni
tude anything seen within the borders
/ of the park itself The trail passes
! through the famous chain of lakes
From one point over 20 lakes wer'
counted; lakes ranging from a hun
dred yards to mile or two in diane
ter. Great belts of virgin timber ami
broad fields of snow lend the neces