The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-06-14

1T WAS q glorious morning. The
| rains seemed to have turned their
attentions elsewhere for the time
being. All the mountains stood
clear-cut against the blue, with
| tops whitened by snow; the foothills
and the whole valley were wearing the
new green mantle Of spring.
We had taken the early car for
| Sierra Madre, car always filed on
days off, with merry collection of
| city folk who love the wild and who
yearn the week through for the higher
places, the rocky canyons and the
dashing streams, and for the racing
blood, red cheeks and renewed en-
ergy that such retreats give to those
who seek them, writes H C.. Hurst. In
the Los Angeles Times.
Our objective point was the Big San
ia Anita. Neither Henry nor
had ever been in this canyon. We
had seen its little sister many time
as we climbed. up the Mt. Wilson trail,
but there is always an added zest
In the unknown, in not knowing what
is ahead around the next corner in
new town, around the next bend in
the trail, or what the next week, Or
month or year holds for us In that
larger journey called Life. We ques-
| toned our nearest fcllow-passenger, a
young fellow in complete corduroy
| suit and mountain boots, who looked
| as though he had always climbed
mountains. Yes, he had been clear
through the Big Santa Anita, and
there were some ticklish places in 1t,
but we could make 1t all right. He
himself was bound for the west fors
Of the San Gabriel by way of Mt
| Nilsson.
1t seemed no time at all before we
were stepping from the car in beau
| tiful Sierra Madre, and before the train
crew would have time to turn their
trolley pole the whole crowd was
streaming up the road toward the foot
Of 'the everlasting hills" Most of
these bearers of lunches and kodaks
kept on to where the burros in their
corrals watched with big. brown eyes
| at the foot of the Mt Wilson trail
We turned to our right and followed
roadway which led down hill, across
silver creek, and up a long grade
through groves of orange and lemon,
with now and then a bungalow show
| ing about the green leaves. The trees
were loaded with fruit, and a man who
did not look in the least like a crouch
was carrying large armful of sign
! boards and planting them at frequent
Intervals along the edge of his golden
acres, said boards threatening dire
rhirgs to the person who dared to
more than lack at the yellow tempta-
items on his trees
Star. UP Canyon.
We cut through an orange grove and
tame out on a high mesa overlooking
.ae wash and heard the roaring of
| tae stream as it dashed over the large
Loulders as though deadly eager to
Lieet with the San Gabriel river out
caore in the valley and compare notes
on their respective trips through the
FOUNTAINS.
A largo party of boys and girls were
1,rambling down the bank when we
arrived, and as they stopped to take
q picture of the group we passed them
| aAd started up the~canyon. We real
lad at once that it was a time of high
water and that travel up through taose
narrow passes would be a vastly diff
ts.ent affair than In midsummer, when
tho streams are low. Indeed we kept
sry from the start only by making al.
most impossible leaps from boulder to
boulder, or by working our way
along the walls of the cliff by precari.
BUS handholds.
| Finding some better going, we press
ed on and came at last to a scene of
wonderful beauty, but one which
seemed to block all farther progress
up the canyon. Walls of solid rock
lowered high in the air on every side
save that from which we had ap-
preached. At their base a vast pool
was spread like lake, probably 90
feet across. and Of great depth, and
into this leaped from a cleft in the
cliff the whole river, beautiful water
fall some 25 feet in height. Two
mixers had preceded US. and we sat
down and watched them cross the
shallowest part of the pool and climb
up the very crude ladder .1hich lean
ed against the cliff and led to the top
of the falls. 1t seemed to take them
long while to cross the stream at the
top of the ladder. and when we fol-
lowed them we did not wonder, as we
found ourselves standing on a shelf
Of rock a foot in width, from which
place flying leap must be made
across the staream, with only a STOP
ing rock wall to land upon. Some
way Henry made 1t without falling In.
and with his help too got across, but
slipped after safety was reached, and
az a result / found it expedient to
climb up the mountainside, which here
sloped conveniently, and lie In the
warm sun and dry out
House of the Hermit.
Soon the canyon narrowed and
where the creek rushed between YER
teal walls we must needs wade the
stream. on came the shoes and stock
lnSs. and In We went It was q cold