The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-05-12
Bear Creek Canyon.
A Successful Fishing Trip In Montana.

A Successful Fishing Trip in Montana.
BozEMAN. MONT, April 26. Well, we
certainly had quite trip, starting Satur-
day night about 5 in an open two-seated
mountain wagon with two good horses.
We had our lunch, or rather supper, small
travelling bags, Claude's saddle, fishing
gear of all kinds, including lively quart
of worms, the boys mountain boots and
an assortment of general merchandise.
It was so very warm when we started
that it was hard to realize that we would
need the heavy clothing we had along.
For some miles our road lay through the
valley, past the road leading to Old Fort
Ellis, where the college is now repairing
the old building for temporary occupancy.
We came to the Seventh Day Adventists'
settlement, called Mt. Ellis, where they
have quite rapidly growing group of
buildings, including boarding school for
girls. 1t seemed so queer to see the
church open and everyone dressed in
their "Sunday bestest." The ranches
looked prosperous, and the boys explain
ed the absence of gophers by saying that
they were unwilling to promise that they
wouldn't work on Saturday and so were
banished Bear creek flows through the
| little village, and near the turn of the
road we stopped to take the mail from
the Bakers R. F. D. box. AS the road
turned it went under fume which ex-
tends 10 miles up the canyon, and was in
evidence for all the rest of our drive.
Near the mouth of the canyon was
little white schoolhouse not different
from the typical New England building
so familiar to three of US. except for its
surroundings. Nearby we noticed a little
wigwam that was evidently the favorite
playhouse at recess time, and we stopped
long enough to leave some fruit as little
surprise for the small owners. The mouth
of the canyon is quite impressive, and the
rock walls on one side rise to good
height and are unique in formation. The
road follows the creek bed quite closely,
and the roaring brown torrent indicated
that not all the snow was gone up in the
mountains, in spite of the extremely
warm weather we have had for this time
of year. This supposition we found to
be correct, for as we drove along patches
of snow were noticeable under the deep
canyon walls in the shadow. At the
mouth of the canyon the spring flowers
were quite gorgeous and we were de-
lighted to recognize clumps of familiar
blue violets, together with what seemed
to be variety of our yellowdog- tooth
violets, and some small blue and purple
flowers that we did not know. AS we
got farther up the canyon the road be-
came rougher, and we had to hang on to
keep our seats. The white sign indi-
eating the boundary of the forest re-
serve shone through the fast-gathering
dusk and warned US of the approach to
a hill whose ascent was a matter of
scramble for horses and passengers.
Driving up it is out of the question, and
only by dint Of frequent rests did we
and our patient northumberland nags
reach the top, all of US painting
for breath after our strenuous exer-
cse Less than mile farther on the
lights of the Rangers cabin cleaned
ahead, and we found warm welcome
awaiting us from Mr.. and Mrs. Baker
AS the boys planned an early start for
the next morning, after a little "visit-
ing we retired, to sleep so soundly after
our long drive in the fine mountain air
that we hardly could believe it when
sounds of activity in the kitchen indi-
Gated that the fishermen were about to
start off for the days sport. We watch
ed them off from the window and then
put in another good two hours sleep.
Mrs. Baker and the little girl and cit
tier" boy were just ready for breakfast
when we appeared, and almost as soon
as finished we set out with books and
cameras for walk up the canyon. Past
out that it was hard to tell it from the
old stream bottom, as in places the creek
had forsaken its former course in favor
of the road. We found tempting spot
near the creek, where we read between
intervals Of looking up at the surround
ing hills and trying to realize that the
rocky, wooded slopes so high above us
were part of the backbone of the con-
tinent.
1t was almost dinner time when we got
back to the coy little log cabin where
the Bakers are living out their theory
that happiness is matter of tempera-
ment rather than of environment. Last
spring they were virtual prisoners for
two months on account of the floods, but
this year conditions have been exception
ally good. For weeks at time in the
winter, too, they do not see another soul.
In fact, Mrs. Baker told US that after our
sleighride visit one December evening
the first person she saw pass the house
was in March, when man went by on
horseback. Bear is one of the least visit