Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-21
Motorists See Both Old and New West
on Trip Through HghW00d Mountains

Out on a grassy slope in the foot
bunch of white faced cattle were
grazing. In the canyon below a party
Of tourists stopped to watch the sun
set behind the timbered hills beyond.
Two pictures-the old west, and the
new. Years before, more white faced
cattle had grazed on that slope, but
those who rode the winding trail in
the canyon rode horse back.
Thirty miles east and a few miles
south of Great Falls the tourist may
drive through an ever changing
country, over a graveled highway into
a land where yet the creed is OF the
western cattleland Of Montana's yes
terdays. where still the gray wolf
packs hold full sway of the wild game
Of the mountains. A beautiful country
where some of the finest ranches in
the state are located, where thou
sands of head Of cattle Craze or the
bald slopes Of the hills and benches
and in the sheltered timber land of the
forest areas.
Ideal Camping Grounds
In there. in the heart of the hills.
above the Highwood ranger station
Bob Kennon. grizzled rider of the
range from the Lone Star state to
Alberta. is making what he calls his
last stand" The "old timer is
herding for the Highwood stock as
sociation and his camp is typical OF
the cow camps of old.
The Highwood mountains afford an
ideal camp ground for tourists. the
fishing is good and it is worth the
trip just to stand out on some wind
blown slope or among the pines and
look out through the tree tops to the
tents of blue above the green.
From Great Falls one may drive
out Second avenue south. continue al
most due east for about % miles to
where the road crosses Belt creek.
Across Belt creek the road swings
south up Willow creek for a short dis
lance and then swings east and around
almost to the north. winding over the
divide between Willow and Highwood
creeks. Here one strikes the foothills
Of the Highwoods and out to the east
they rise to the sky in a rugged pat
tern of green and purple beauty.
velIe's Ranch One Of Best i
Along the creek the campsites are
many and the conditions for camping !,
ideal. The water in the creek is as
clear as crystal and ice old. There s
are always fish for breakfast and al 8
ways birds that sing of mornings In :
the pine trees. y
Up along the creek the road leads {
past the Elk Run ranch. owned by {
W. L Velie. one of the best equipped
ranches in the state and stocked with s
thoroughbred Hereford cattle. Nestled
in the foothills of the mountains, along 6
the stream that flows just below the =
the ranch dwellings present a {
of western life that is real. b
Farther up the creek is the Thane +
ranch, another big cattle company \
herds Craze in the Highwood n
hills. i
Many Summer Homes I
Beyond the road leads past the s
community building where t
the country parties SAVIOR of the gath h
erings Of the folk who dwelt on the p
old frontier. There are many comfort f
able summer homes along the creek d
and the Shirley Ford and Sam Steph- .
enson ranches have a setting in the :
hills where aver bank presidents may
in full the pleasures and Injuries I
Of wonderful homes to which their .
positions entitle them in one of the
most beautiful valleys of the High
wood mountains.
Two miles south of the Stephenson
is the forest boundary and the
Highwood ranger station. A mile or
TWO up either the north or south fork
IF the creek and the road for the
tourist ends. 1t is up here
where Bob Kennon lives with his cow
ponies and watches the cattle pastured
u the forest area.
1t is q trip of varied and wonderful
,eauty, easy to drive, affording scenery
hat is good to see, a trip to be long
remembered.