The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-09-09
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"A SZZAH NR 40

at Norris and at Thumb the hot water has
brought to the surface quantities Of white min
eral deposits which build terraces Of beautifully
incrusted basins high up into the air, OFTEN en-
quilting trees Of considerable size Over the edges
Of these carved basins pOurs the hot water. MI
croscopic plants called algae grow on the edges
and sides of these basins, painting them hues OF
red and pink and blush gray, which glow brli-
IiantIy. At many other points lesser hot springs
occur, introducing strange. almost uncanny ele-
ments into wooded and otherwise quite normal
landscapes.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone affords
a spectacle worthy of a national park were there
no geysers. Standing upon Inspiration Point,
which pushes out almost to the center Of the cam
yon one seems to look almost vertically down
upon the foaming Yellowstone river To the south
a waterfall twice the height OF Niagara PUSHES
seemingly out OF the pineclad hills and pours
downward to be lost again in green From that
point two three miles to where you stand ana
beneath you widens out the most glorious kaleido>
scope of color you will ever see In nature Inc
steep slopes dropping either side 1000 feet and
more from the pine-topped levels above are incon-
ceivabIy carved and fretted by the frost and the
erosion of the ages
The fossil forests of the Yellowstone National
park cover an extensive area in the northern por-
ton of the park, being especially abundant along
the west side of Lamar river for about 20 miles
above its junction with the Yellowstone One
traversing the valley of the Lamar river may see
at many places numerous upright fossil trunks in
the faces of nearly vertical walls These trunks
are not all at a particular level but at irreg
ular heights; In fact 8 section cut down through
these 1000 feet of beds would disclose a success
sion of fossil forests. That is to say, after the
first forest grew and was entOmbed, there was
time without volcanic outburst-a period long
enough to permit a second forest to grow above
the first. This In turn covered by volcanic
material and preserved, to be followed again by
period of quiet and these more less regular al
formations Of volcanism and forest growth contin-
ued throughout the time the beds were In process
of formation.
The Yellowstone National park is the largest
and most successful wild animal refuge In the
world 1t is also, for this reason, the best and
most accessible field for nature study. Its $500
square miles Of mountains and valleys remain
nearly as nature made them. for the 200 miles OF
roads and the four hotels and many camps are as
nothing in this immense wilderness No tree has
been cut except when absolutely necessary for
road or trail or camp No herds invade its val
legs Visitors for the most part keep TO the beat
en- road and the wild animals have learned in the
years that they mean them no harm. To be sure
they not always seen by the people IN Che
automobile stages which whirl from point TO point
daily during the season; but the quiet watcher on
the trails may see deer and bear and elk and an
teIope his hearts content, and he may even see
mountain sheep, moose, and bison oy 1ourneying
on foot or by horseback into their distant retreats
It Is an excellent bird preserve also; 200 spe-
cies live natural, Undisturbed lives. Eagles are
found among the crags-
Trout fishing in Yellowstone waters Is une1-
eeIIed All three OF the great watersheds abound
in trout, which often attain large size. Yellow
stone lake is the home OF large trout which are
taken freely from boats. and the Yellowstone nv
er and its tributaries yield excellent catches to the
skilful angler.
The criticism often made by persons who have
visited granite countries that the Yellowstone
gion lacks the supreme grandeur Of some others
OF national parks will cease to have weight
when the magnificent Teton mountains just south
of the southern boundary added 70 the park
These mountains begin at the foot Of the Pitch
stone plateau a mile or two below the southern
gateway and extend south and west. They Dor
der Jackson lake on its west side, rising rapidly
In a series Of remarkably tOothed and jagged peaks
until they reach sublime climax, 80 miles south
OF the park, In the Grand Teton which rises ca
thedraElike to altitude Of 1871 feet
These amazing mountains are. from their ma
ture, a component part OF the Yellowstone Ma
dOnaI park. whose gamut OF majestic scenery they
complete, and doubt would have been Included
within its original boundaries had their supreme
magniheence been then appreciated. Already Vel
l0wstone visitors have claimed ii, and automobile
stages to Moran and back on regular schedule.
In time doubt. part Of 1t win be added formally
70 the park territory.