Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-14

OF their aims they 1alled IN this
Investigations have disclosed
ne of the smaller branches of tn,
o a point many miles west anc
zee of the river.
, had swept away everything, cutting
new channel through the narrow pas
in the mountains. At this point the in
dications are very distinct as deter
mining the western limit of the ancien
glacial lake which existed in this val
ley, covering an undetermined area o
about 300 square miles, extending t
the Alaska Basin and Red Rock pass
Proceeding on our way along the nortl
side of the valley as far as Long creek
upon which is situated an e~xtensiv,
bed of coal. we crossed the river tt
the south side and proceeded up tn,
valley to Blake's ranch, Magdalen
; Shambow Pass, lower and upper Rec
| Rock lakes to Culver's ranch at tht
head of Picnic creek, crossing, exam
/ lining and photographing numerous
| sparkling mountain streams flowing
down into the Red Rock fork from
the snow-capped SUBMITS of the Rocky
mountains above us.
Through Centennial Valley
"The river channel through the Cen
tennial valley is very crooked. and
meanders through meadows of grass
cient glacial lake bed, fully. doubling
the distance by land.
Lower Red Rock lake is a very
shallow broadening of Odell and
Shambow creeks, four or five feet deep
and matted with innumerable shoals
which are covered with a dense growth
of rushes. The lake is situated to the
southwark of the main river, which
does not flow through it. . .
There is no timber growing upon its
shores.
The upper Red Rock lake is a very
different body of water, its general re-
cess extending along the center of the
upper portion of the valley, the main
river forming its inlet and outlet. 1t
is from 10 10 20 feet in depth Dor
dered by a growth of pine timber on
the south side Immediately at the base
of the main range of mountains.
Swan lake is a small body of water
on the north side of and almost part
of upper Red Rock lake. divided by a
narrow. wet marsh. Some enterpris-
ing gentlemen of Montana resort to
these lakes in the hunting season for
ducks. geese. swan and other fowls
which find here a %brooding place each
season. .
In Alaska Basin
"On August 4 I crossed over to the
Alaska basin and examined it's entire
surroundings. This basin is the east
ern extremity of the ancient lake
which formerly existed in what is now
Centennial valley. There is no timber
except at the base or the flanks of the
mountains, and patches of underground
along the streams. so that from the
SUBMITS a view of the entire locality
can be had, which is easy of access
and grandly picturesque in its noun
tain scenery. Skirting the basin at the
base of the mountains | explored nu-
merous little ~streamlets flowing from
the canyons and gulches, subsidiary TO
the north and south forks. as ~designat- |
on the government plant. These
two forks were found to flow out from
Culver's canyon on the south side of
the basin. and, after a meandering cir
of about three miles. they come |
together again lower down near the
of the depression below which
considerable stream comes in
from the base of Hanson mountain, !
which is known as Horse Camp creek.
"Culver's canyon is not very far
west of the center of the south side of
the Alaska Basin, and discovering that !
principal stream issued out from
it IN four channels cast asunder by an
lmpetuous current p~lunging over a
detrital mass to a quarternion division.
thorough exploration of the locality
deemed advisable and necessary"
Inc writer traversed the canyon for
distance, finally reaching a gorge,
the rock sides of which were nearly
perpendicular and where was found
the site of a former cataract, now re-
luced to a rapids. Returning on Au-
gust y to Alaska Basin for a fur
ther exploration. the explorer left his
PACK n saddle horses and proceeded
through the canyon on foot.
Among Volcanic Peaks
Following the bed of the stream
Is best we could and against an in
rapidity of current. we final
y arrived at a small flat and marshy
on the west end of which is
a small lake, which we called
lillian. But a short distance beyond
!ilIan lake we suddenly came in full
lew of a hole in the summit of the
H'thF mouIltSlHs. immediately west or
he crest of the main range. and cir
ling around which were numerous
leaks, apparently of volcanic origin.
From this hole in the Rocky noun
ans, the little r~ivulet, two feet wide
nd scarcely two inches in depth,
rawIng its utmost supply from the
nner walls of the mighty and tower
ng uplifts surrounding it, takes it's
curse out, into and down through Gull
ers canyon to the valleys below,
roadenlng, deepening and strengthen
~ ITS Importance from the base of
dJacent and enormous ranges on every
and, until its turbulent waters, sew
ring the mountains and channelinG
ne valleys, open the gate to an issue '
the parent ocean thousands of miles
way by the longest continuous and
channel known to the 6
ord. :
The formation of this unique, most =
!stant and peculiar source If the =
Llssouri was undoubtedly caused by =
,lcanic action, similarly to the man 9
ar suggested by Captain Dutton con- n
,rning crateriform depressions in Ha- n
ali. u
Missed by Lewis and Clark s
Lewis and Clark, in their 1SO4-O6 C
ipedltion, in which they followed up d
Ie Missouri to what they thought was
8 extreme source, did not reach the c
ed Rock lakes, the Alaska Basin or c
n llaI- - a. - III