The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-06
A TRIP IN THE oLYMPICS
As Nations Great Mountain APP
pears to a Lady.

At seven thirty on the morning OF
July Gath jolly party OF about fifty
boarded the steamer Whatcomb, and
left Seattle for Port Angeles. The
deck was crowded with friends of the
Containers, waving goodbye with
their white kiTchiefs, while the
crowd on the boat waved farewell
with their blue and red handanas.
Arriving at Port Angeles about three
in the afternoon, part OF the party
were taken to Macdonald, our first
camping place, by stage, while about
twenty walked the ten miles.
After a good dinner, We went to
bed under the stars and had fine
nights rest-my first night in the
open. The rising whistle sounded
at four thirty and after hearty
breakfast we started on our tramp
over the mountain trail. This trail
was built by the people Of Port
Angeles.
The first day IS journey was only ten
miles, but quite long enough for
those whose wandering had never
before taken them over a mountain
trail A few miles from Macdonald
we passed through a cIump of i'm
mense cedar trees several Of which
measured from ten to twelve or four
teen feet in diameter.
Passing from the timber into a
clearing we found quantities of large
blaekberries and black raspberries.
Needless to say we ate our luncheon
! dessert then and there. During the
whole trip we counted nine different
XIII DIS of berries blue berries, red
and black huckleberries. thimble
berries, raspberries, salmon berries,
saball berries, sarvice berries and an
other kind which cannot name.
The trail was of course up hill and
down, though it kept steadily tax.
ing us higher aad higher The little
streams rushing and roaring down the
mountain side added greatly TO the
picturesqueness of the scene and were
most heartily welcomed by the thirs,
ty travellers. Maidenhair ferns grew
tall and graceful oil either side OF
most Of the little streams and seem
ed more dainty than ever ON the. rug
Red moutain side, among such tall
and large timber. When not too
wide and deep these brooks were
forded and how cooling they we're to
our tired and warm feet.
During the first days trip we made
climb of about eight hundred feet
crossing a ridge called the "Devil'i
Backbone. We looked down from
the edge of this ridge into canyon
of the Elwha, two hundred feet deeI
and only about fifty feet wide at thu
top. You can hear the water rush
ing through this narrow gap for {
long distance.
While cooling our feet in the rive
after luncheon. we saw doe which
came down to the river to drink
She seemed to nave as much curiosity
about us as we about her ant
wandered along the other side of tb'
river for about fifteen minutes.
Well defined bear and elk trail
crossed our trail often and the berr!
bushes showed signs of visits from thu
bear. They like berries as we'll a
we.
We camped at Geyser valley anC
there left the last human habitation
| The trail from Geyser on was
primitive affair. Wherever IL cam,
| to log too large for the pack horse
to go over, it went around. Thi
second days trip took us over tw,
r ridges, each over a thousand fee
3 high. A rare part of the trip thi
I day was along hillsides which haC
l been burned over years ago and Will
3 we missed the cooling shade of tn
5 trees, we obtained our first views o
D the snow mountains above aud tn
Q deep green waters of the Elwha rive
s thousand feet below roaring on l.
Q the sea.
Our camping place at the end O
T. the second days journey we calle'
Elkhorn and it was certainly fairy
, land. The ground was completed
g covered with moss about two inche
thick, which made fine he'd. On
bed was just on the river brink wher
the rushing waters lulled us to slet p
From Elkhorn to Crackerville
the name given TO our next campin
place, there was nothing of special IN
ter est, only TO those who we're on th
trip and had to cross two large river
On logs. We we're very much inter
ested in keeping ON the logs.
= Sunday morning. July 2sth "
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