Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-09-13

less and less until finally only steam
issues from the tube. 1t Is always
beautiful and especially at night
when a searchlight on the roof OF Old
Faithful Inn throws strong beam
upon it and renders it white shim-
mering mass of water and steam. IL
never fails to draw crowd at even
ing or during the day.
The next day after lunch we start
ed again glad to be once more NOV
ing. During the afternoon we cross
ed the continental divide twice and
stayed all night in camp on the shore
of Yellowstone Lake. Warm popcorn
was served around the campfire after
supper. The next day, leaving the
lake for while we cut across country
to its northern end where the big
Lake hotel is situated. Here l saw
five bears and got up within eight feet
of a mother and two cubs to take their
pictures. We arrived at the Canyon
for lunch and that afternoon walked
down the south side mile and half
to Artist Point where fine view can
be had. The Grand Canyon of the
Yellowstone is about twenty miles
long but only three miles of it is
worth viewing and that is certainly
worth the effort and expense of the
entire trip. At the head of the can
yon the river falls 100 feet, and then
again 308 feet to the bottom of the
canyon. We went down Uncle Tom s
Trail, very precipitous and dangerous
by means of orpes and trees, to the
river below the lower falls. When the
sun is shining a rainbow can be seen
in the mist that comes from these
falls. Down at the end of the trail
there are several small geysers right
at the waters edge.
The three great features of the
canyon that impress one are its great
size and immensely, its irregularity
and peculiar shapes; and lastly the
great number and range of colors. On
the north side are Point Lookout, l.
200 feet above the river and half a
mile below the falls, and Inspiration
Point, thousand feet above the yell
lowstone and two miles from the falls.
These points are on the top of great
pinnacles of rock jutting out into the
canyon. All along there are great
high cliffs, towers, spires, peaks, and
all conceivable forms and shapes.
And such a wealth of color adjoining
these, red, yellow, brown and all their
shades. And there far below twists
and turns the blue-green river and
some green trees cling to the steep
sides, while near the falls the mist
waters the green moss that grows
on the side of the canyon. Here ma
ture has displayed all her colors for
our benefit.
We stayed there from one o'clock
in the afternoon to the next noon,
leaving there Friday and going to
Norris Geyser Basin in the afternoon.
That forenoon we were in quite a
snowstorm and all our clothes were
insufficient to keep comfortable. Stay
ing over night and the next forenoon
at Norris we left for Gardiner over
the road we came in on and then
back to Livingston for the night.
Regarding the animals of the park
] will add that only coyotes, mountain
lions and wolves can be killed and
they are always shot when seen. 1t
is said that one is not allowed to kill
mosquito until it bites you. How
ever, there are not many. Most of
the animals are quite tame especial
ly the bears, some Of which will eat
out of the hand. They can be seen
at nearly all the hotels and camps,
being attracted by the garbage
thrown out. In fact, they get quite
troublesome, breaking. into the cook
tents and destroying everything I'M
til log cabins had to be built. Meat
is always hung in a box from a tree.
We also saw elk, deer, antelope, a
badger, and dozens of chipmunks
and woodchucks. There are not
many birds. in the park but fishing
is very good and is allowed in nearly
ali streams. There are very few
reptiles and rattlesnakes cannot live
above 5000 feet, so there is no fear
Of them.
We certainly enjoyed our trip and
advise anyone who goes anywhere
near the park to make the tour by all
means.
Hoping this will interest your read
ers, | remain,
Very respectfully,