Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-20

riso, steep and precipitous, to a height OF
1000 feet above tho 1oor OF tho valley,
Gumerous streams drop from the edso or
the cllff to the valley below.
The nrst of these to be eeen rs the tour
list enters the valley Is the Bridal VEIL
a stream fully 30 feet wide falls a dis
lance OF GOO feet, then rushes over q eIop-
Ing pile Of debris. and then drops perpen-
dicularly 200 feet more. From the points
from which It Is generally Viewed II seems
to make only one plunge, and the general
effect IL that OF n fall 900 feet high.
In Yosemite, the Sequoia and tho Ger.
Grant National ParlB arc founo tho
groves of big trees whose equal are seen
nowhere else In the world. Those trees
grow to n height of $40 feet and nave n
circumference OF moro than 1W rect at
tho base. the bark sometimes exceeding 4o
inches in thickness. In tho Mariposa
grove Che road extends through tho base
or one of these trees and n coach and iour
Is regularly driven through this tunnel In
the tree without danger or discomfort TO
the traveller. The rings In the trunks OF
these trees show that many OF them are
more than 1000 years old. Cathedrals and
castles have been built and fallen into
decay, empires have come and gone. but
these grizzly giants of the western slope
still raise their heads and spread their
grateful shade as they did in the days of
the Caesars.
GREATEST GLACIAL SYSTEM IN THE
WORLD.
Tho largest glacial system in the world
radiating from any single peak Is situated
AZ MI. Rainier In western Washington.
The Mt, Rainier National Park includes
the mass Of this gren: mountain and all
the approaches to it. The traveller APP
preaching Mt. Rainier passes through
oreas In which the climate and the vegcta-
ton range from temperate to Arctic. The
lower valley is thickly covered with fir,
Ilemlock and cedar, the underground 10
dense and the forest floor is covered with
moss and a litter of fallen branches and
oecayed wood. AS the mountain Is as
cended the vegetation changes; at an al
titude of 1000 feet the forest cover con-
sists OF mountain hemlock, Alpine fir and
Alaska cedar. Gradually tho trees be-
come smaller. they are gnarled and twist
ed as II they had endeavored to escape the
fury OF the fierce blasts that sweep over
the upper slopes. The trees dwindle to
struggling bushes and then the climber is
on the bare rocks, polished and SCARED
by the masses of snow and Ice that have
swept over them. The last four miles to
the summit is along the ridges between
tho glaciers or over the Ice. The way is
rough and steep and is dangerous unless
the traveller is accompanied by a guide.
The Crater Lake National Park in Ore
Gon has within its borders a lake that Is
unique among the natural wonders of the
world. This lake, into which no streams
flow and which has no visible outlet, lies
in what Is left of the followed summit OF
n great mountain that rose to an eleva-
tion of over l4,0eO feet above the sea.
STRIKING BEAUTY OF LAKE.
He who cares nothing for the wonderful
history of this lake may well be entranced
by Its remarkable and striking beauty
Around the lake are 20 miles of unbroker
cliffs. ranging from 900 to 1000 feet in
height. whose colors are reflected in the
placid water. Near the western edge OF
the lake is Wizard Island. in the top OF
which is an extinct crater 100 feet deer
and 800 feet in diameter, and near the
southern shore is a Jagged rock which
from a distance resembles a ship, bu
which apparently disappears when the
shadow of a cloud strikes 1t. This lake Is
not the only attraction OF the Nationa
Park In which II is situated. The sur
rounding peaks afford opportunities FOL
climbing, and the extended views from
their SUBMITS offer an adequate recon-
pense for the effort necessary to reacl
them.
In southwestern Colorado ana north
western New Mexico at one time dwell
one of the most remarkable races of tn,
rev world. High up In the cliffs which
border the canyons that hav been cut II
the Mesa Verde are more than 400 prehis
toric ruins. Three of the most importan
: ruins-Clif Palace, Spruce Tree Hous,
: and Balcony House-have been excavatec
: and repaired, and give the visitor an idei
Of how these prehistoric people lived. Thi
! park Is % miles from the nearest rail
! road station and can be reached only oil
3 horseback or on foot.
INDIAN VILLAGE AT CASA GRANDE
The Casa Grande ruin. near Florence
Ariz., IS an Indian ruin of undetermine
, antiquity. which was discovered in 100
by Padr Kino. a Jesuit missionary. Thi
9 great house Is said to be the most i'm
= Iortant rum OF us type IN tne SOUTHWEST
i, and for this reason it has strong claim
10 archaeological study, repair and perma
rent preservation. The main buildini
. was originally hvc or six stories high ar,
covered a space 20 by 10 feet. Some o
the rooms have been ~eXcavated or restor
cd and more than 100 rooms on the groun
floor are open TO the public.
1t Is almost 10 years since Congress la!
the beginning OF the great National Par,
system by passing the act c%reating tn
Yellowstone National Park, approve
.!arch /, 1872. Other parks have bee
\ created since. until at present the are
embraced In these pleasure grounds O
the people amount to more thar 1900, N
a acres. Tho policy of establishing nationa
:, parks has resulted In preserving from pr
c waite exploitation and gain great area
which are characterized by magn!lcer
n scenery ana which are used as vacatio
resorts by thousands Of people.
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