The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-09-12
CAMPING IN MOUNTAINS
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Hr. Percy Proctor Describes Outdoor
Lie In the Land Of Sunshine.
SANTA BARBARA. CAL, AUG %. 1907

SANTA BARBARA. CAL, AUG %, 1907
To the Editor of The Republican:
In the mountains of Southern Cali
fornia there are no resort hotels as are
common in the Allegheny, Catskill anc
White mountains, for example. Most
of the people who go to the San Bernar-
dino and Sierra Madre mountains near
Los Angeles, Pasadena, Redlands and
Riverside, spend the summer in what
are known as camps. These are perch
ed high up in the air, four, five or six
thousand feet above sea level. Few. if
any, can be reached in wheeledvehicles,
it being necessary to ride on horseback
a part of the way at least. The most
popular camp near Redlands, for exam
pie, is forty miles by wagon road, but
only twenty-five miles by wagon road
and trail, fourteen by the former and
eight by the latter. Usually there is a
central dining hall, kitchen and dormi-
tory flor employees. scatter / around
are log houses, with wooden floors. rugs,
screened doors and windows, brass bed
steads and wooden furniture. Many
have running water and bath rooms.
For families who wish to keep house
there are groups Of living cottage,
kitchen, workman's hut, barn. shed,
etc, all made of logs and completely
furnished Milk, eggs, chickens and
ice are kept on the premises, but gro
ceries have to be laid in for weeks at a
time, hauled from the nearest city.
while fresh meat and vegetables are
brought in from ranches in the valleys.
at least once a week. Game and fish
are easily obtainable by skillful sports
men. These places are open by the
middle Of June and close by October
first. The temperature is about the
same as that of the Allegheny noun
tains, but the climate is much better.
there being very few cloudy or rainy
days. Last winter there was sixteen
feet Of snow on the level, for most of
the season, where is located one of the
most popular summer camps. It is this
melting snow that helps to irrigate the
orange groves of the valleys. Riding
Is the chief amusement. Women and
girls all ride astride, wearing yellow
coverings over their skirts. as a protec-
ton against dust, bushes and rocks. So
many of the trails are narrow. steep and
on the edge of precipices, that it would
not be quite safe for a woman ta ride
on side-saddle, which would be apt to
slip and throw the weight on one side
at a time when the horse was balancing
himself on the brink Of a gorge. Walk
ing, croquet, tennis and afternoon tea
out-of-doors are popular with the ladies',
who also can play Bridge" morning.
noon and night Those who have kept
house in camps say that it is easy. A
family Of four or five will take
a maid and Jap for cook, procuring
their Supplies from the same source as
does the proprietor of the cemu. while
there is daily messenger communication
with the nearest city, not to mention
telephone connection. In these camps
IN the best of them-board and lodging
will average about $40 week per per
son. There are enough employees in a
company for all
In camps not so pretentious as the
above, nor so elevated, most of the
guests will live in what is known as
"tent-cottages. " A wooden frame
work, shaped like one story cottage,
with roof sloping from center to caves,
is covered with plain white or striped
canvas, openings beiag left for ordina-
ry windows and doors; some times the
roof is made of board. and where the
sun is apt to beat down fiercelv. can
vas is stretched about foot or eighteen
inches above the permanent roof. so as
to permit circulation of air between
and temper the heat An ordinary wall
LSlb DC par dlGQ from LQe living tent.
which has wooden floor and is other
wise comfortably finished answers for
a kitchen, but in this class of camp the
guests usually have their meals served
together in q central dining room. Still
more simple are the camps of two.
three, four or five men From all the
coast towns and cities in Southern Cal
fornia small parties 60 for week or
two, to the mountains, taking their
tents and supplies with them fifty miles.
Camp is formed on the edge of a canon
stream and the campers spend most of
the time in fishing, shooting and follow
ing the many trails. During the sum
mer in Southern California there are no
thunder and lightning storms nor rain
ny days to interfere with recreation out
of doors.
A typical Southern California summer
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