The mirror., 1919-05-15
USING OUR NATIONAL FORESTS
Motor Tourist and t1iker Entertained Free by Uncle
Sam-Free Hunting and Fishing
L. Dahl, in TrauelM Magazine
Arthur L. Dahl. in TracsI Magazine

with an accumulation of many
years. leaves or needles and as
silent as the tomb. No wind ever
breathes into the depths of these
still pine or spruce forests, and an
hour spent alone among the
straight towering trees in the
dim religious light will help one
to realize the inscrutable mystery
of life. There, if one is quiet,
perhaps glimpse of the wild crea-
lures of the forest can be had. The
trees, some of them centuries old,
living things like ourselves, are
growing straight and strong to
fulfill their destiny-to build a
shelter for man or to form boat
to transport his supplies or perhaps
to be shattered by a fiery bolt of
lightning.
If one does not like the silence
and the somberness of the forest,
there are great open places filled
with sunshine and flowers and
grass where bees hum and birds
sing.
Hunting is permitted during the
open season and many parts of the
western forests are famous for
their game. Fishing too is one of
the means for making the days 60
by quickly, and no expensive deli
cacy of the big markets can equal
the flavor of the fish caught in the
mountain streams and lakes. When
broiled on forked stick, with a
pinch of salt added, they are as
satisfying as a juicy steak to a
starving man.
In the last few years the Govern
ment has put a great deal into the
building of roads and trails through
National Forests, and in the ag-
gregate the mileage suitable for
tourist travel in the forests is con-
siderable. A special appropriation
was made by Congress for this
purpose and these funds have been
supplemented by appropriations
made by the states and by local
communities. A certain portion
of the time of the rangers is also
devoted to road and trail work. In
California, where some of the most
scenic National Forests are located,
the state has constructed great
system of public highways extend
ing from one end to the other.
many of them passing through the
National Forests. The Yosemite
National Park with it's wealth of
scenic beauty now has some very
fine roads which have been thrown
open to automobiles. The Tahoe
National Forest, which includes
within its boundaries the famous
Lake Tahoe, also has some very
good roads leading through it. and
the same is true of a number of
the other forests in that state.
Through the Angeles Forest in
southern California there are many
miles of fine highways constructed
by the state or with funds raised
by automobile associations and local
communities. These roads enable
motor parties to reach the scenic
portions of the forests within a
short time, and where the country
is too rough to permit of the use of
machines or the roads are impass-
able walking trips can be made to
nearby points of interest, or the
ever-present and sturdy burro will
bear the white mans burdens.
| One of the famous outdoor clubs
of the West is the Sierra Club OF
San Francisco. 1t is the custom
of this organization to make an
annual pilgrimage to some region
famous for its beauty. The full
trip often requires a month or two
to complete but other shorter trips
are provided for those who do not
wish to spend SO long time in the
mountains. On these trips q
definite itinerary is mapped, every
detail Of which is worked out care