Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-06-29
Vining and Boys
Return from Caves

phlne caves and the mountains. All
we're a tired but happy crew.
Upon leaving Ashland early in the
morning on the first day of their trip
they proceeded up the Butte trail to
Mount Ashland and clear over to Red
Mountain the first day. The trail
was covered with snowbanks and
small glaciers and the trip was rem
dered exceptionally hard by this con-
dition.
The second day was one of the
hardest of the whole trip, as the trail
could not be found and they had to
pick their way through the brush as
best they could, and numerous scout
ing expeditions had to be made. That
day, on account of getting on the
wrong trail, they travelled 2S miles
instead of IL, as they could have
gone. However, the party pushed
their tired and weary constitutions
ahead and arrived at Squaw Lake by
o'clock in the evening of the sec
ond day. Here they rugged up a fine
camp and enjoyed themselves to the
full. Fine fishing was had, fly cast
ing working fine, and many large
trout were pulled out. Only part of
the day was spent at Squaw Lake,
and from there they proceeded
through the mountains, reaching the
Big Applegate the next night Here
they found the river raging torrent
on account of the heavy rains. This
had to be forded. and the water was
very cold and waist deep. They made
camp along the ,Applegate that night.
The next day they proceeded to-
ward the caves, arriving at Steam
boat about noon. Steamboat is a big
stock ranch in the mountains. From
there they proceeded TO Stevens, max
ing camp there that night, the fourth
night out.
Going through the mountains they
tried to get milk from the farmers,
in fact inquired at three different
houses, but they all said that they
used condensed cream. This shows
the progressiveness of the farmers in
that locality. Upon being asked why
they spent so little time with their
farms they replied that all spare time
was spent in prospecting.
Stevens Is about nine miles from
the caves and is at the end of the
county road, and the next morning
they took to the trail there, reaching
the desired destination about noon of
the fifth day. Monday. The trail is
one of great beauty. according to
Professor Vining. he has ever seen.
1t goes right through the heart of
the hills and has beautiful trees and
shrubs along the way. ferns and wild
flowers growing in profusion. He
says "The woods alone were worth
the trip
AS they came in sight of the en-
trance of the caves, and also the big
crowd of Grants Pass people, they
were given rousing cheer. Ash
land was the best represented city
present, next to Grants Pass Vining
and the boys were invited to dinner
with the Grants Pass continguent. In
regard to the dinner Vining says:
while the Grants Pass people out
run us in numbers, the boys outran
them in getting to the serving tables
and in the amounts consumed, for ]
their appetites were whetted by the
hard climb to the caves. 1t was cir ;
culated among the big gathering
present that there was one boy
among the Ashland bunch that drank
thirty-five cups of coffee, and the ru-
port was brought tonne, which /
could hardly believe. but upon inves-
tigation, by the questioning of the
president of the Grants Pass Com
mercial Club and other prominent
members, the first report was dis
credited, but it was found that twen-
ty-three cups had been consumed
But it was the beans. delicious and
filling, the boys of our party appre-
ciated."
We quote from Professor Vining
for the rest of the trip: "The Ash
land boys rested the first afternoon
at the caves. and in the evening
Joined in the big campfire gathering
a feature long to be remembered.
Much singing took place around the
campfire, the whole company join
ing, the ladies Of Grants Pass prov
ing themselves to be queens Of mu-
sic. for their young voices sounded
sweet on the night air."
The Ashland contingent, upon be-
ing called upon. gave numerous high
school songs and yells. The meeting
then took the form of booster meet
ing, Professor Vining being called
upon first to make an address. He
talked for half hour. dwelling prin-
cipally upon Ashiands awakening in
of Aa