Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-07-20

AFTERNOON sun transforms INTO broad
silvery band across the darkly wooded
ravine.
The mountain on the left of Mis-
sion creek was our destination, and
having been joined by Prof. Elrod
we started from st. Ignatius on a
beautiful afternoon Of late June. Our
outfit was hauled far up the ridge
leading to the mountain. and at night
we established camp at $500 feet
elevation ON beautiful park line
ridge along the creek. It was a most
inviting place for a camp. Around us
were lofty yellow pines, veterans of
years of conflict with fire and wind
and mountain storms. Over our
heads was noble red fir. one of num-
bers on the ridge. Underfoot wher-
ever we trOd We're thronging wild
flowers, fragrant with nectar for bee
and butterfly. Clarke nutcrackers and
black headed jays scolded at our i'll
truson of their claimed domains,
while hOary marmOts and Roersy
Mountain pikas whistled from the
nearby rocks. Below in the gorge the
tumbling brook roared among the
bushes. Upward and beyond was
scene of magnificent grandeur. Across
the open head of the gorge a great
rock slope was exposed. now covered
/ with layer of snow from recent
| rIon6 Al tho rpht Of
/ towering SUBMITS. their lofty heads
encircled with vapors and white with
frost snow above the forest line.
Vast snow masses filled the amph-
/ theatres and hung in ample depres-
sions. 1t was a sight to inspire the
soul, and for few days we Worship
ped at the shrine of grand and ma
jestic beauty.
ing has taught us that even when it
seems unnecessary, it is we'll to car
/ ry along plenty of grub" We fig
ure about as follows: A handful of
raisins will serve for one meal. a
/ handful of loaf sugar for another,
hunk Of cheese for another, cake
Of LOwneys chocolate for another.
a pocketful of water biscuit for sever
al. cold biscuit and slice of ba-
con for another: thus we can carry
enough for two days or three if nee
essary, and in case We do not need
to be saving Of grub one can eat
the whole lot at one sitting We
once made a mountain trip of three
days and two nights on the allowan-
Ces mentioned. For the best results
of such an expedition cameras and
plates must be carried, collecting i'm
Elements. a gun and other smaller
things. In this instance our COM
blned load amounted to more than
100 pounds, distributed among the
three Of us.
A Great Change.
The mountains of this region are
tain will serve as type. There is
I generally long heavily wooded ridge
leading gradually upward, often swept
by forest fires in places, and having
steep humps at sundry places on
the ridge. Frequently the burns are
) overgrown with thick bushes cover
ing fallen timber, making the ascent
tolsome and wearying. And that is
what some people call fun. Water
must be carried in canteens. and the
: first snow bank met with is compar-
able to an ice cream soda on a hot
day. At about $500 Or 5000 feet ele-
walton occurs the transition from the
Sonoran to the Alpine zone of life.
: Yellow pines and red frs give place
, to white bark pines and Alpine frs.
Summer flowers disappear and those
of early spring appear. Alpine in
sects are seen, and all forms of life
|; show adaptations to more rugged and
unsympathetic surroundings.
!, Having begun the ascent from
: camp at $3.50, at 1880, we found our
t selves at an elevation of $500 feet,
!, facing a vast chasm in whose very
} center stood an immense chimney OF
, isolated rock, frowning at our further
: progress, while upward and beyond
the notch lay the summit we had Sc
| lected as our goal. We sat at a
snow bank and munching our water
, biscuit. discussed the situation. At
, each side of the chimney was a pre-
, cipitous slide. and the two must be
| crossed if we continued our journey
} 1t loked rather ugly. and we decided
to try the northern side. In few
!, minutes We found ourselves on a
t mighty slab of rock. nothing ahead
! but vast amphitheater two thousand
4 feet deep, and great cleft detach
5 ing the rock from the main hummock
f The rock was fitting, SO that there
J. was nothing but thin air underneath
e We caught glimpse of immense
n snow banks at the bottom of the am
l. phitheatre. and without further dis
!, cussion turned back to cross the slides
r by the other route.
f Climb to the Top.
t. The way around, under the i'm
t pending chimney of rock, was far less