Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-12-23
ano the
Nez perce 3noions

Missoula, Montana tells me that an
early breed, French trapper by the
name of Lau Renee settled on the
corrupted his name till it sounded
like Lou-lou or Lolo. Most certainly
l have seen the name written Lou
lou.
1t is quite possible that Major
Fem and Mr.. Koch are both right
for the naming of these two creeks
and hence the name of the Lolo
trail and the Lolo pass. 1t is a
happy coincident that the two states
can share in the naming of this old
historic trail But if there is any
one who has more authentic infor-
nation on the naming of the Lolo
trail we shall be glad to hear from
Major Truax's blaze is quite dis
tinguishable on the trail 1t is a
three notch blaze placed high on
the trees and evenly spaced about
10 inches apart. They appear now
only as dog faces and are the oldest
blazes on the trail. l cut one out
and counted the tree growth which
verified closely to the year it was
supposed to be put up.
A Captain Bird was the next per-
son who did some permanent work
on the trail in 1853.
But General Howard in 1877 had
more work done than any other con-
tingent on the present Lolo trail, up
to the time of the Clearwater Forest
Service.
1t was thru his direction that
some of the greatest changes were
made on this trail for military pur-
poses. when he was compelled to fol-
low Chief ) Joseph over this route.
He had the trail well cut out TO as
for as Towards camp, and packed
howitzers part way across the trail.
Many shells have been picked up at
different places. One was found
this year at Bald mountain.
General Howard was near How
ards camp when he got the hurry
call from Gibbons, when Gibbons
was corralling Chief Joseph and his
band in the Big Hole country. and
soon afterwards found he needed
more help to get loose FROM This
this band than was required to cor
raj them. Howard hurried forward
without doing any more work on tho
trail after this move,
1T certainly was an active trail
during all this excitement, from the
middle of July up to snow Soc
Nez Perez warriors with their wo-
men and children, and at least 1900
head of cayuses crossed this trail
ahead of General Howard. who fol-
lowed with several hundred soldiers
and numerous packers and many
hundreds of horses ard mules.
The effect of this travel is still
apparent on the trail. Thru the
timber the trail was cut opt wide
the stumps cut low, and much grad
ing done on the sidhhills. If this
expedition had a distinctive blaze |
did not notice it. The Government
mark is a notch and a blaze below
1t. There are many of thee, but
none l examined date back to 1877
they were made by the Forest Ser
vice. Some of the names to places
and streams along this trail were
given by this military expedition.
The Forest Service has done the
best trail work, making it much
easier to travel by some of the
changes But from Howard's camp
to the Lolo pass it still remains
close to the primitive. in many
places, and Will require much more
work to make it a good trail.
There has been little travel on
the Lolo trail in recent years. Oc-
casionally' small party crosses It:
now and then prospector endowed
with a feeling of wander-lust. or
gripped by the lure of the trail.
strikes back into those mountains
over this route, hoping against hope
that fortune may strike him. A
solitary forest ranger and a few
. smoke-chasers and look out men
with their outfits travel a part of il
Seldom If ever do the Nez Perces
travel its entire course. The most
of it is Ghost trail of its former
days and as such will ever remain
Thus have we reached the end of
our trail.
THE END