Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-03-19
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ing Alightinans" heldsage OF Bolton, we nave a
delicious meal ing? He Great Northerns pretty
Swiss chalet hot%orodll climb aboard stage coach
for the ride to LaAks Mcdonald. For an hour we
travel boulevard cut through dense forest OF
pine spruce and b.llsam and then, where group
of cottages are clustered its shore, the lake
opens out before us. This 1lmile stretch OF water
is so beautiful in setting and color, that no words
are adequate to describe it. Lake Mcdonald was
a popular resort long before the national park
was established, and there are several hotels and
camps about its northern end. To one of these.
the Glacier hotel we taken by launch to be
greeted cordially by its proprietor, j. e. Lewis,
who for years has been taking care of fishermen
and other folk who wanted to spend week or a
summer in the open So near that 1t seems but
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. 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, 1t lies IKE
a precious gem in deep basin that Is veritable
mountain garden At end the rock wall rises
almost perpendicularly for 5000 feet and 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 hve hours OF
climbing is Sperry glacier Just great held OF
ice and snow, about three miles in extent ana OIL
unknown depth, 1t lies gltterlhg anu spar llhs
under the midsummer sun. Crevasses cross us
expanse here and there, and the tourist must be
exceedingly careful IL he ventures out on Its sur
face Indeed, the authorities do not permit this
unless with guides and ropes, on any or the ga
ciers in the park. The wind Is always hlgh up
there and snow and rock slides are frequent.
The mountains and glaciers and lakes ana
passes we have seen are only a Few or the WONDERS
of this wonderful park-only few, indeed, OF
that part that is open to ordinary slghtseers
Almost half of the park, tine 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 estao
lshed 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: II is pleasure ground Tor the peo-
pie, not for the millionaire No fine clothes no
expensive Injuries there All charges are regu-
lated by the government, and II is the ambition
of Louis HILL chairman of the board OF directors OF
the Great Northern, to keep the necessary ex
penses OF visitors down to the minimum GLACIER
park s 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 It's lavish expenditure OF money to make
things comfortable for those who go all the way
TO Montana to see the Switzerland Of America
haven't yet devised better name for II