American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-03-26

ing. Alighting at the village Of Bolton, we have a
delicious meal in the Great Northern's pretty
Swiss chalet hotel and climb aboard q stage coach
for the ride to Lake Mcdonald. For an hour we
travel a boulevard cut through a dense forest OF
pine, spruce and balsam. and then, where a group
Of cottages are clustered on its shore. the lake
opens out before us. This 11-mile stretch OF water
is so beautiful, in setting and color, that no words
are adequate to describe 1t. Lake Mcdonald was
a popuIar resort long before the national park
was established. and there are several hotels and
camps about its northern end. To one OF tnese'
the Glacier hotel, We are taken by launch 10 Dc
greeted cordially by it's proprietor, j. e. Lewis
who for years has been taking care of fishermen
and other folk who wanted to spend a week or a
summer in the open. So near that 1t seems out a
moments walk from the shore, the mountains OF
the park tower to the skies, casting their Jagged
reflections in the still waters OF the lake. A ten
mile ride through the forest that clothes their
lower slopes brings US TO Avalanche lake. Pea
green In color. rejecting the spruce and pine and
hemlock that crowd to its very edge, It lies ike
a precious gem in a deep basin that Is a veritable
mountain garden. At one end the rock wall rises
almost perpendicularly for 5000 feet. and over its
edge ard down its face dash four torrents dis
charged from Sperry glacier. two miles away.
Not very easy Of access. but wonderfully impress
sive when you get to it after some five hours OF
climbing is Sperry glacier. Just a great field OF
ice and snow, about three miles in extent and OF
unknown depth. it lies glittering AND sparkling
under the midsummer sun. Crevasses cross its
eXpanSe here ana lneIe, ana the tOuTlSl must 70
exceedingly careful il he ventures out on its sur
face. Indeed, the authorities do not permit this.
unless with guides and ropes, on any OF the gla-
ciers in the park. The wind is always high up
there. and snow and rock slides are frequent.
The mountains and glaciers and lakes and
passes we have seen are only a few of the wonders
Of this wonderful park-only a few, indeed. Of
that part that is open to ordinary sightseers.
Almost half of the park, the northern part, is
known to few except forest rangers, guides, lndi-
ans and some scientists. Doubtless before many
years the whole region will be opened up. and the
remarkably satisfactory system OF camps estab-
lished by the Great Northern Railway company
will be extended to the Canadian border. Within
the last year these accommodations have been en-
larged greatly to meet the demands Of the rapidly
increasing stream of visitors.
One more thing must be said for Glacier Ma
tional Park: 1t is a pleasure ground for the peo-
pie. not for the millionaire. No fine clothes, no
expensive luxuries there. All charges are regu-
lated by the government, and it is the ambition
of Louis Hill. chairman of the board Of directors or
the Great Northern, to keep the necessary ex-
penses OF visitors down to the minimum Glacier
park is his hobby and his pride, and he is as
familiar with its trails and passes as are the
guides and the Indians. OF course, tourist travei
to the park helps his railway, and at some time In
the far future the company may begin to break
even on its lavish expenditure OF money 10 make
things comfortable for those who go all the way
to Montana to see the Switzerland of America
haven't yet devised a better name for H.