The Springfield herald., 1913-03-07
RoBABLY the longest highway
In the world is known to auto
mobilist as the Pacific Highway.


in the world is known to auto
mobilist as the Pacific Highway.
1t extends from Vancouver to
n Tia Juana, afording 1000
mile jaunt. and offering all sorts OF
scenery and experience.
Mountain passes come with regu-
larity on this long road. which. to the
north OF San Francisco. 10 marked with
the Pacific Highway signs. To the
south of the Golden Gate the en-
blematic road signs of the Automobile
Club Of Southern California give both
the directions and the topography in
picture signs that can be interpreted
at . mile = minute. In southern Cali
fornia the roads have been improved
70 rapidly that It 10 the paradise Of
tho motorists and the new roads have
meant making the mountain passes
easier in grade ~ well ~ smooth OF
pavement
Crosses Ynsx Range.
San Marcos Pass. lying between the
channel city Of Santa Barbara. famed
for its well preserved mission and Its
mountain drives, and the old mission
Of Santa Ynez. the nrst seat OF learn
ing on the Pacific, CROSSES the Santa
Ynez range with 30 miles OF beautiful
scenery. Az one lifts aloft from San
"a Barbara side. the whole channel
with ita Islands and countryside grad
ually unfolds. Maybe the 60-miie wide
channel 10 hidden by banks of fog that
hide all but the peaks of the islands
and yet end sharply at the shore Of
6anta Barbara Bay. intensifytng the
Piedmont region and adding to tho
beauty Of the bfllowing clouds that fill
the channel while away beyond 10 the
open sea. unending.
On the north side Of San Marcos
Pass the scenery IL more Wild and the
climb moro precipitous. A. the grade
doubles around the old hills far away
views are unfolded and the ridges OF
the range site dizzy fidea to the
mind. Finally there IL q glimpse OF
the snowfed mountain stream. the
Santa Ynex river. where dwell the
speckled beauties sought by the MIN
rods and found in abundance. The
road follows along the river mile after
mile as the altitude drops away and
finally the old ford. now well bridged.
II reached and the level of the stream
10 found.
Grand old oaks dwell In all the pass
es Of the sunny southland. Thousands
Of years have they lived in their ma
1esty. broad. massive. silent and grand
beyond description. Some Of the pass
es like the TETON start from the floor
of the desert on both sides and grad.
ually unfold mountain torrent and
majestic oak. whitened sycamore and
beds Of ferns gigantic In size II is
strange to leave the Mojave or the
San Joaquin plains and enter the Te-
Jon and. rising thousands Of feet and
in the hottest day, feel the atmos-
phere cool. vegetation grow rich and
trees Of wonderful size unfold. Here,
only 40 miles away from the oil city
of Bakersfield. possibly the most un.
comfortable city In America in sum-
mer. 10 an ideal resort Offering every
inducement and yet containing not
one single summer home. But ali
through It you md. the summer
through. camping parties with wagon.
pack horse or automobile. arriving, 30
3ourning or departing. In some Of the
rocky defiles like the Cajou or the
IdyIlwild there 10 little vegetation un-
til the heights are reached. The Ca
Jon IL = gateway to the great Amert-
can desert. 500 miles wide, 30 offers
NO beauty of big trees. The Idyll-
wild. on the country. winds over the
coast side Of the great San Jacinto
mountain. where snow is almost al
ways found. Here the road passes
through gigantic pines and through
cool dells where mountain streams vie
with distant saw mills in making mu-
sic for the traveller. and the road
rises to = height Of over a mile.
Worth the Climb.
There are 81 miles OF climb on the
Banning side Of the Idyllwild pass. but
the views are worth It. You. who
have studied the plain from Pixies
Peark. the view from Mount Washing