The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-09-09
Through the Yellowstone Park
An Enjoyable Camping Trip.

Interesting features. At Shoshone Point
a wonderful view was obtained of the
beautiful valley and Shoshone Lake in
the distance, with the three snowcapped
"Sentinels" of the Titon Mountains,
fifty miles away, filling the horizon.
We drove through the 'Knotted For
est" where the trunks of the pine trees,
attacked by some kind of blight, had
formed huge knots and knobs, and gave
a goblin sort of appearance to the
woods for mile or more. The Natural
Bridge, with abutments thirty feet
apart and an arch sixty feet high, is
stone formation rivalling mans handi-
work that spans creek rather high up
on the mountain side. At Lake View
we had our first glimpse of Yellowstone
Lake, brilliant blue, and sparkling in
the sunlight. After the drive of about
mile, during which we passed little Duck
Lake, we came to the lake shore at the
Thumb Bay Lunch Station. Registry
at the "Swattie Station was a matter
of course and soon over, and we drove
down to see the famous Fishing Cone
boiling spring near the lake edge.
There fish caught in the lake could be
swung around into the cone and cooked
without removing them from the line-a
practice now forbidden by the Govern
ment. A short walk among the paint
pots and boiling springs brought US back
again TO the rigs for delightful drive
along the shore of the lake-the largest
of its altitude in the world, with the ex-
ception of one in Peru. 1t is 20 miles
across, and of irregular outline. One
very odd effect was plainly seen on the
mountain range to the east of the lake.
The peaks of Saddle Mountain range,
and of another range several miles near
er, give perfect outline of a ''Sleeping
Giant" Icing at rest with his mouth
open, apparently in peaceful slumber.
AS we turned a corner an interesting
sight met our view-a pack train-three
men and five burros, including one tiny
fellow-about two months old, one of
the men said in answer to our inquiry.
Some ore has described the burro aptly
as "a Jack rabbit on stilts," and that
was Just what the little fellow looked
like, with his huge ears pricked forward
as we rolled by. We passed the Wylie
and Shaw party at Powell Lake camps,
and went on to an ideal camping spot on
the lake shore. There the tents were
set up with the usual despatch, and the
fishermen were soon off to try their
luck. They returned late for supper
quite as usual!-bnt with very salts
factory catch.
The night was so warm that camp
fire was hardly a necessity, but small
one was built nevertheless, and later
proved useful to dry the washing of
some of the ambitious. Near the camp,
on the beach, was a walled up warm
spring, whose delightfully."- soft water
tempted several to rid "middies" and
other articles of some of their accumu-
lation of park dust. The moon was
nearly full, and grouped on the beach
all enjoyed to the full the evening at the
lake. Gulls and pelicans made investi-
eating tours almost at our feet, and the
views across the lake reminded US lit
tie of home, minus Holman Day whit
of sewers and SALT" and with station
airy tide.
A good start was made in the morning
and by O'Clock we were we'll on our way
toward the Lake Hotel, passing the Gov
eminent Fish Hat cherry station, where
our Bozeman hatchery friends. Supt.
and Mrs. W. T. Thompson, had been
spending several weeks, leaving a few
days before we came through. The Lake
Hotel is rather an imposing Colonial
structure, painted yellow with huge
white columns and broad, white rallied,
veranda. Near the hotel is little store
operated by the steamboat company
which runs boat from the Thumb sta
ton to the hotel landing. Fare So so
trip of about Is miles,. 1t was a warm
morning and the ride had been dusty
one, so the magic placard in the store
window 'lce Cream" brought forth
stsqueap' of joy from most of our way
farers, many of whom, unlike the young
'gnan of the story, ''believed in signs"
1t was bitter disappointment to those
first at the door to find it locked-but
the group modified on the platform,
summoned the clerks from somewhere,
and they reaped rev ard from their en-
terprise. The oranges and lemons, as
we'll as the delectable ice cream were
soon "cleaned out" while the stock of
gum-for everybody in the park chews
gum, even the bears-milk chocolate,
candy, peanuts and post cards was rap
idly depleted. Most of US walked the
short distance to our lunch camp and
saw our first "hotel BEARS" Two cubs
on the rubbish heap were having glo.
rious time with bacon rind, while two
others in the woods nearby were having
frolic and climbed tree for our bene-
fit. Though clumsy, they are quick, and a
recently developed snapshot of them up