The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-04-21

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Great herds Of caribou or wild rein
deer are To be seen-as many as
1000 dt once. Most Of these herds
frequent the bare gravel bars, where
the strong winds afford some relief
from the attacks by flies and mos
q~uitOeS. Other herds range on the
high rugged mountain ridges, and
several large drOves have been OBJ
served far up on the glaciers, well
toward snow-line, seeking a little
respite from insect pests.
In other parts Of Alaska caribou
at times appear in huge droves as
they migrate from place to place, but
they stay only q short time in any n
locality. In the Toklat basin and In
the vicinity of Muldrow glacier, how
ever, the caribou are at home, and
they remain there throughout the sum-
mer TO rear their young.
There is abundant indication that
this is a permanent range. Deeply
worn trails form a veritable labyrinth
along the stream flats, and bedding
grounds, old and new, occur every
where. The miners from the Kantish-
ma report that caribou may always be
seen in great numbers on this range.
There is a striking difference be
tween the actions Of caribou and those
of the bighorn sheep when surprised
by man. A sheep, once aroused, knows
exactly where he wants to go, and
usually starts, without a moments hes
~itation, on the shortest route to SOM
rugged mountain mass. He may stop
to look around and appraise the
danger, but he Is sure to follow the
route he first chose.
Moose Are Plentiful.
Moose are very plentiful in certain
parts Of the new park, but are not so
commonly seen as sheep and caribou.
AS their food supply consists OF will
low and birch twigs and leaves and
the s~ucculent roots Of water plants,
they stay much Of the time in TIM
bered and brushy areas, where they
are incOnspicuous.
The best moose country In this re-
gion lies In the lOwlands north OF the
main Alaska range, outside OF the
boundaries of the proposed park but
some moose are to be seer within the
park lines, and doubtless more of them
will take refuge In this game preserve
when they are more vigorously hunted
in the neighbOring regions.
There are some black, brown and
grizzly bears In this district, but the
bear hunter has a much better chance
Of obtaining a hide in other parts of
Alaska than he has here.
The new park lies almost entirely
above timber-line. Trees grow along
the valleys Of the main streams to an
elevation of about 5000 feet above
the sea-level, but the timbered areas
comprise only a small fraction of the
whole. The only trees Of Importance
are the spruce, birch and cottonwood,
and none of these are large. The best
patches OF trees afford logs big enough
for making log cabins, but there is
no merchantable timber In the park.
| Willow brush and some alders grow
| somewhat farther up the valleys than
the trees and enable the camper to
find fuel for his fire In some areas
!! where trees are lacking.
The completion Of the new govern
ment railroad makes the park imme'
| diately accessible. The railroad line
runs within a few miles of the east
park line. On leaving Seattle one car
then plan to reach Seward or Anchor
age within a week, spend a single day
on the railroad to the park station
and in another day or two. by saddle
horse, penetrate well into the park anC
into the midst Of It's game herds.
With a completed wagon road bull
from the railway, it should be an easy
half days journey of 50 miles by au
tomcbile from the railroad to the Ger
ter Cf the park, the whole route ira
versing mountains IF wonderful scenic
beauty and teeminy w.th big game.
At the western terminus of the wag
on road there will some day be a hote
for the accommodation OF tourists ant
mountain climbers. There, below thu
terminus of Muldrow glacier. in con
slant view of the mighty snow-clat
monarchs to the south, one will b,
able to find complete rest i'm the grand
est of natural surroundings, or vii
have close at hand tasks Of mountain
climbing that will tax the resourc
Of the sturdiest. Few regions offer IN
Inducements to the mountaineer tina
can be found here.