The Natchitoches enterprise., 1917-08-30
he Cords are all stepping stones.

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and in a few dangerous places,
4 rough, log bridges were used.
The arroyo belongs to the gov
ernment and being in the forest
preserves is governed by rangers.
For $500 year you can lease a
private site, but Uncle Sam had
pub lie sites every little bit.-about
6 the first 3 miles. where you can
come any time you want pitch
camp on the stone foundations,
use tn e chimneys etc. These sites
are all numbered, ours being 3I9
which means it was slightly over
3 mile from the mouth. All the
sites are not occupied by cabins,
though dozens we're and we passed
attractive camps made with auto
trailers; happy family groups, boy
scouts, camp fire girls and every
body gave US CHEEKY word.
There were three ranger camps
and twice a day a ranger rides
every trail enforcing the law. One
! is no bathing, wading, washing in
the stream which is kept as pure
as a we'll and the sanitary regu-
lations are all governmental.
There are no spring, summer or
autumn rains but you would be
surprised at the simplicity of
housekeeping while mountain
camping. The woods are thicker
than at HON and parts of the trail
reminded me of Iron and Breazeale
Sprin gs, the canyan walls are
about four time as high
as the bluffs at Grande Ecore, and
covered with trees and shrubs with
fire brakes up the sides also OBJ
servatlon points and boulders.
The cabins are so attractive,
rustic on rock foundations, chin
ney and porches of stone and ALL
screened and such attractive names.
One occupied by the cowboys was
called the Rodeo; one on a narrow
stone ledge was the shelf. there is
Oaknolls Willows Sevenoaks, rest
awhile and Dewdrop Inns. The
Perch Crownest Liberty hall etc.
Half way up was a store camp
called Teddy's outpost, with small
mounted cannons and all sorts OF
clever hammocks, swings and
and perches at unexpected sites.
This canyon is miles deep and
dozens above which we did not
penetrate and it's "a mile trail
to Mt. Wilson with lots of attract
i've hikes and you never saw 80
many birds. squirrels or flowers,
but no snakes, mosquitoes, flies or
ants and housekeeping is a joy.
Our cabin was on a jutting point
in a curve with the stream on
three sides and a glorious view
and breeze, high above the trail
1t was well built rather high up,
one big room full of ingenious
lockers, cupboards big double
built in disappearing beds which
looked like wardrobes on a rustic
scale, chairs. dressing tables etc, Il
ard sort of bath room and an
enormous screened poorch on one
corner of which is kitchen, stove
with oyen, swinging safe pantry, t
dish closet and everything as we'll
fitted up as a modern kitchen, q
around from that were the light
tables, built in benches etc for a
dining aud big army cots, ham. q
mocks, deck chairs for the outdoor
sitting room and the big sycamores
which were growing below jutted I
out up on our knoll, and elders, g
oaks, pines, larches, cottonwood
al grow thickly up the slope. Be n
hind one big maple, blackberry
bushes and the canyon walls rise b
clear up in an inaccessible cliff. n
Beady eyed squirrels would run -
right to the steps while yellow and
blue birds galore perched within q
touching distance. We had a book, >.
IN which we tried to identify those Il
We didn't know and / saw my first n
Mariposa lilies. and many gorge
,us flowers | had read of but never r. =
seen. Sc
The burro train brought up our y
(the comissary was i,
tocked with staples and canned ii
,oods) fresh eggs, lettuce, april t. r.
ots and plums and myI 'how good az
,acon, eggs and coffee smell at a "a "a
,lace like that. pl
1t is part of the creed not 10