Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-06-29
trically lighted and a roadway be
built to them from Grants Pass.

trically lighted and a roadway be
built to them from Grants Pass.
The caves are at present set aside
as so-called Oregon monument, and
nothing can be done toward improv-
ing them. The movement is now on
foot to have them placed in the for
est reserve so improvements can be
made. What improvements have
been done have been through the
Hearst's Magazine Company, who
have done much exploiting of the
caves.
Tuesday morning the Ashlanders
went through the caves in a private
party, being joined by Miss Van Nice
and her. sister from this city. The
government guide took the party
through every part of the caves, the
exploration taking about four hours. I"
Professor Vining stated: I'm re-
gard to the caves, lake and all the
great scenic attractions, words are
always inadequate, and they must be
seen to be appreciated One feature
of the caves, whose beauty will ever
remain in the memory of the party,
was Paradise Lost, an exquisite
domed chamber. The walls and cell
ings of this beautiful chamber were
composed of hundreds of tulip-shaped
stalactites. The entire caves are a
series of grottos and remind one of
the home of sea nymphs and fairies.
Joaquin Miller's Chapel is another
little exquisite chamber and befit-
tingly memoralizes the great poet.
The trip through the caves is
tiresome one under present condi-
tions, necessitating climbing innum-
cradle ladders, wriggling through
small passages and climbing over
rocky lodges, but the view at the end
of these pathways is always a suffi-
cient reward for the effort expended.
That further exploration and develop
ment will reveal new treasures can
not be doubted, and Oregon's Marble |
Halls will one day be recognized in
all their grandeur and beauty"
After two days rest at the caves
the party decided to leave their camp |
and directed their footsteps toward |
the summit of old Grayback, one of
the towering peaks of this region. |
After precipitous climb of six hours |
the party reached the plateau from
which the peak rises, and here, fol- |
lowing the direction obtained from |
guides at the caves, we were led |
astray into deep canyons and camped |
that night in Bear Glenn. From |
every evidence they chased colony |
OF bears out of this region and |
usurped their homes for the night.
THE next morning after hazard
Gus climb fro mthe canyon we reach
ed the summit of Grayback, and from
there obtained as fine mountain
view as imagination could picture.
On all sides of us were mountain
peaks, while range after range blend
ed in the lazy distance. Field-glasses
brought familiar mountains within
range of vision, and even smoke from
Mount Lassen was thought to have
been distinguished. At this point our
greatest difficulty presented itself
Only one trail leads down through
the precipitous canyon through
O'Brien Gap, and the upper stretches
of this trail were covered with snow
banks and glaciers from twenty to
thirty feet deep. One day of explora-
tion was spent here. After camping
among the snowbanks,> watching the
sun set and rise over the mountain
peaks, and in the early morning en-.
joying the novel view of the lower
levels immersed in fogbaHks, which
gave an appearance of vast ocean
with mountain peaks as islands, rear
ing far above the seething cloud sea.
Even the gnawing boy appetites were
forgotten in the grandeur OF the view,
and all rejoiced that we had ma