The Alaska daily empire., 1921-11-23

broad valley of the east fork of the Toklat River. The river bed is about a mile wide and on the slopes above the valley many herds of caribou are seen feeding. In July and Au- gust there will be at least 1000 of these animals in sight here and more likely two or three times that num- ber They are very inQuisitive and come very close to travellers. Being protected now and not hunted out, they are rapidly getting more ap- proachabe.
 Hills of Many CoIors
 Crossing the east fork of the Tok- lat River, the route leads into a country of hills of many colors. the pass through them being named Poly chrome Pass on account of the va riety of colors to be seen. It is a broad pass and the scenery on all sides is most beautiful. Some eight miles beyond the east fork. the route comes to the main Toklat River and crosses an open flat to the north side of Divide Mountain. Herds of caribou range all through these passes and the sheep are still cling ing to the mountainsides, but are not as numerouseas along Igloo Creek and Sable Mountain.
 View of Mt Mckinley
 Another eight-mile pass continu- ing southwest to the hcadwaters of Stony Creek is called Highway Pass and from Stony Creek, after a short climb over a low ridge, the trail leads from the head of Thorofare Creek down the stream to Mckinley River
 Prom the head of Thorofare Creek the view of Mt Mckinley cannot be surpassed and is one continues to- ward the great mountain, it's gran deur is impressive at all times. it's white hulk rising between the nearer dark hills
 At Muldrow Glacier
 "As the route follows downstream along Mckinley Fork, the broad gla- cial stream gradually narrows down to pass in front of the Muldrow Gla- cier, whose great fan spreads over the flat for several miles. This gla- cial fan is completely covered with vegetation along the river and unless the traveller is informed of it, he does not know he is passing over one Of the largest glaciers in the country. The peculiar formation and contour of the fan has earned for it tha local appeFation of the Crazy Hills which are nothing more than distorted ice covered by gravel. dirt and vegetation In front of the glacier the river narrows down to a canyon and for about two miles the trail necessarily follows along above the bluffs on the northern side to descend again near the lower end of the canyon. From this point on, the river widens out and the bed is from one to two miles wide, the river , flowing west to point well beyond the Wonder Lake trail where if crosses the park boundary.
 Trail for Siuhtseers
 "The entire trail through the up- per passes is distinctly one for the tourist or sightseer. The wonderful mountain scenery and the herds Of caribou and mountain sheep making the trip well worth while. At pres ent there are no accommodations for travelsrs, but the National Park Service hopes to remedy this condi- tion in the near future now that the Government Railroad is completed to Mckinley Park Station and tourists can go from Seattle to the park by direct steamer and train.
 Only Packhorse Trails
 Transportation by pack train is the only means of travel az the trails are few and there are no roads of any kind. Tn the future it may be possible to build summer road through the upper passes. but at present 1t is not practicable and in the winter would be of no value be- cause of the snow Polychrome. Highway and Sable passes are be- tween $500 and 4,000 feet high, which is too high an altitude in that region for winter road. there being no protection from the wind and storms, except a small patch of tim ber on the main Toklat River. throughout the 3O-odd miles of passes"
 Roads Are Planned
 Mir Abbey said that road into the Kantishna mining district now being planned by the Alaska Road