The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-03-21

ing Aushting at the village Of Belton we have
del cous meal In the Great Northern's pretty
Swiss chalet hotel and climb aboard stage coach
for the ride to Lake Mcdonald. For an hour we
travel a boulevard through dense forest OF
pine spruce and balsam. and then, where a group
OF cottages clustered on its shore. the lake
opens out before This 11-mile stretch OF water
is so beautiful. in setting and color that no words
ara adequate describe it Lake Mcdonald was
popular resort long before the national park
established and there several hotels and
camps about its northern end. To one OF these,
the Glacier hotel, taken by launch to be
greeted cordially by its proprietor, J F. Lewis.
who for years has been taking of fishermen
and other folk who wanted to spend week or a
summer In the open. So that it seems but q
moments walk from the shore, the mountains OF
the park tower to the skies. casting their Jagged
refections in the still waters OF the lake. ten.
mile ride through the forest that clothes their
lower slopes brings to Avalanche lake. Pea
green in color, rejecting the spruce and pine and
hemlock that crowd to its very edge, 1t lies like
q precious gem in deep basin that is veritable
mountain garden. At one end the rock wall rises
almost perpendicuarly 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 II after some five hours of
climbing, is Sperry glacier. Just great field OF
ice and snow. about three miles In extent and OF
unknown depth. 1t lies glitterng and sparkling
under the midsummer sun. Crevasses cross its
exceedingly careful If he ventures out its
face. Indeed. the authorities do not permit this.
unless with guides and ropes. any OF the gla-
ciers in the park. The wind is always high up
there and snow and rock slides frequent.
The mountains and glaciers and lakes and
passes we have seen 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. Indi-
and some scientists. Doubtless before many
years the whole region will be opened up and the
remarkably satisfactory system OF camps estab-
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: 1t is a pleasure ground for the peo-
expensive luxuries there All charges are regu-
lated by the government, and 1t 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 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 travel
to the park helps his railway and at some time in
the far future the company may begin to break
even its lavish expenditure Of money to make
things comfortable for those who go all the way
haven't yet devised q better name for 1t.