The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-27


pleted the distance to Simpson meadow.
after making rather difficult and
somewhat dangerous ford OF the river,
which at this point flowed in one deep
bed and was not divided. as in Tehipiti.
Our reception in Simpson meadow was
unique. We had fired a shot at = SOUR
rel just as we were about to satsR the
needle.
After walking about half a pails We
were aware Of the fact that three men
were approaching US. This was indeed
surprising, as we had supposed that
there was no one in that portion OF
the country besides ourselves This
trio did not make a very progressing
appearance They were actually dressed
more roughly and were more heavily
armed than any OF the cattlemen that
we had seen The hrst suggestion
which came to my mind. probably In
spired by their closely cropped hair.
was OF escaped c0nvicts. Their manner
was friendly. however. and We did not
feel any need Of communicating our
fears by word or gesture.
1t was well that we did not. for
they proved to be an excellent party.
the leader was the same IVES who
guided Stuart Edward White through
these mountains. He was now acting
as guide for the party OF two which
had accompanied him to find out the
meaning Of the shot which we had
fired. Our new friends. for such they
instantly became. guided US TO an ex-
cellent camping ground at short dis
lance from their own Here we estab-
lished camp that was Just like
home" compared to any. that we had
yet had. From the first we were made
to feel that we had a second home at
the other camp" In this place We
camped for six days.
At Simpson Meadow
Simpson meadow was like Tshipiti
in that it was almost entirely incloSed
by a wall OF about 5000 feet in height.
The similarity ended there. however.
for the wall was OF mountains here and
not OF unscalable cliffs Simpson was
also considerably larger rnan Tehipiti.
and did not impress you with that
overpowering shut in sensation. The
floor of the valley was covered with a
rich growth Of meadow grass. which
was waist high in many places. When
we turned SkoOzicks loose. he did not
wander more than so yards from camp
during the whole Of the first day, on
account OF the excellence OF the feed.
Our camp was located In a clump OF
sugar pines, none OF which was less
than 200 feet IN height. After going
to bed at night. we would lie awake
sometimes for hours and gaze up
through an opening in the trees at the
clear sky and the myriads OF stars.
which seemed TO stand out in holder
relief than ever before. During the
day we 1oafed, or swan in the river
Though not for long at time. on
account OF the iciness OF the water).
Toward evening we SAT- watching the
carcass Of dead horse which the oL44er
party had killed in hopes that a bear
might be attracted by the carbon At
half past 4 we regularly went fishing.
catches, and can not In justice re-
proach the fishing grounds, for Pal
regularly caught the limit IN the two
hours before shutdown.
What with an abundance OF the finest
fish that we had ever eaten. and OF
which we did not tire. together with
the companionShip OF the other
camp" which included a good1y round
OF Wes' stories. we enjoyed for six
days taste OF paradise. We left only
when our schedule compelled, and our
attitude when leaving was more like
that OF sulky children than OF vietors
who sought other worlds 10 conquer.
Our unwillingness to leave was best
shown by the fact that we elwaya
refer to the remainder OF the trip an
coming out
in coming out our route took US
through Granite basin into the South
fork. We were much disappoin ted in
lnlS so Called h4u5S river canyon
There was no doubt In our minds that
the Middle fork was better qualified
to bear the title than the South fork.
We made record time to wildwood and
to our starting point at Trimmer.
On returning to Sanger we estimated
that we had covered a distance OF
about ESQ miles during the three weeks
that we were gone. or this distances
more than zoo miles had been on foot
Each Of US lost 10 pounds during the
trip. but regained the lost weight
within two weeks after we had re-
turned. We had seen some of the most
beautiful and least freQuented country
IN the whole state. We were physically
ut to Tick our weight in wildcats"
The whole expense was less than we
would have paid at even the most In
ferior summer resort Pal and are
thoroughly agreed that we could not
have had better trip.< II you doubt
me, ask Pal.