The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-07-21
Choice Of Trails

"ASp
counting from the north sortb tho
Wonderland, Yellowstone. Lincoln
highway, Midland. National Old
trails and Southern highway. The
oregon trail, from Oregon down to
Salt Lake City, Pixies Peak. Ocean
to ocean and other trails are found
along the highways. and it is nrob-
able that all the blazed trails in the
country number hundreds.
When the automobile made touring
popular the Yellowstone highway.
from Chicago to the National Park.
was extended to Spokane. Across the
vast prairies, through the mountains.
owe the deserts and through the
vacant spaces, splashes of yellow
paint on stones and on fence posts, on
anything that would show and hold
the paint, marked that trail. Stencils
gave the black-and-yellow rival of
the Yellowstone trail its distinction.
The Buffalo Blood trail, dark red
blazes, led across the old Sioux Indian
prairies and little local trail rivalries
stirred the northwestern villages
with grim determination to be on the
trail lines.
AS a matter of fact, the season for
the journey is most important in pick
ing a route.
The spring itinerary would be from
eastern states via Chicago, Clinton,
Ia, and then as the weather per-
mits, into Western Nebraska and
southwark through the dry sage and
alkali of eastern Colorado, and down
into the national old trails after
passing the Kansas wet belt on the
North. But the Ration pass route Is
apt to be cold, and it may be dam
gerous if mi is caught on this back
bone Of the Rockies by a blizzard, even
in May.
Early Summer Best Time.
The easiest transcontinental to
make is probably in the early sum-
mer. after the spring rains. The
route would be the Lincoln highway
straight through. The Lincoln high
way isn't as good as the Santa Fe
route, so far as actual road condi-
tions are concerned. There are places
along it where houses are SO miles
apart, where the water is bitter al
kali, where the road is bad. But a
start in middle May, u leisurely trip
to the Rockies, of 20 or 30 days, and
then 20 days via Cheyenne. Green
River, Salt Lake City, Ely, Nevada, and
Reno, New; Carson City or Lake
Tahoe, P%lacerville and v e the beau
tiful California roads to San Fran
cisco. camping most of the way, if not
all of the way, includes the wonder of
miles, mountains, deserts, wilder
nesses and the farm land empires OF
the country. The same trip may well
be undertaken in August, but care
must be taken not to run into early
autumn o of the Sierras be-
yOnd Reno. Better TURF south beyond
Ely, into Bakersfield, Cal, rather
than take the chance of being showed
back by the Sierras.
One should not be bound too close
~ by schedules or trails. Fellow
tourists coming from ones proposed
region give the latest and most re-
liable news.
Avoid Hit or Mics.
Generally speaking, it is better to
work into one of the main trails and
stick to it than to travel hit or miss.
No One should undertake a trans
continental trip without having his
car put into first-class order, tires in
good condition and with a proper out
fit for campaigning, emergency repairs
and raiment for dust and heat and
cold nights. 1t is, Of course, feasible
to make the whole journey, stopping
at hotels, ranches and at other &C.
c%ommodating places, but in an emer-
gency camping outfit will be needed,
and food for all hands in case of
breakdown 20 miles out in a desert
or wilderness, should be provided.
East of the Mississippi it is feasible
to travel at Is or 20 miles an hour, but
every driver takes chances who speeds
faster on strange roads.
But the way is blazed, and the
watchful driver a follow any Of the
transcontinental trails from coast to
coast by watching the painted signs.