Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-11

GRAHAM WRITES
OF NATIONAL PARK,
The YELLOWSTONE
Rev. A. H. Graham writes us more
of his journey and those interested
in following his trip will find this let
ter one of the most delightful.
Delayed until Friday afternoon, the
tWenty-seventh, we finally started
orthward again to combat with rough
roads of an extreme type, which for
that day eliminated in deep ruts as
we passed through a ranch, before
which we had stopped to open and
shut the gates where the car was
canted to the limit and still rests
upon its wheels. Here no signs
designating the speed limit were
found. Passing through the second
gate we were on a ranch thirty miles
from Pinedale. While the evening
meal was being prepared and par
taken of we enjoyed the company of
two ranchmen who rested on horse
back after having rounded up a
large number of horses. They in
formed us that these horses were
used every day in the work of road
construction which is being carried
on.
The next morning we had to await
to passing showers before continuing
over roads which ran through fields.
by sides of mountains, through deep
gullies, where water concealed from
view the ground. climbing grades
which tested the capacity of the car
for climbing. But we were repaid
for any amount of stress by the
beauty of the Hoback Canyon. Hero
one climbs and descends on a narrow
road by the side of the mountain, at
times looking down upon a swift
flowing river two hundred feet be-
low or making sharp turns around
the mountain not knowing whether
another car may be coming to meet
you.
Many beautiful camp spots were
passed and we paused before the
majesty of surmounting peaks rising
rugged from the other side of the
canyon. Because of difficulty with
the car we greatly appreciated the
assistance of a passing young truck
driver, we'll versed in the mechanism
of cars, who made the last % miles
OF our journey to Jackson contrast
of comfort to the preceding 25.
Two days were passed at Jackson,
camping at the foot of mountain
which rose abruptly for 100 feet,
though it seemed less than half that
distance upward. This small historic
mountain community, made famous
by early fur traders and which has
been the scene of many wild episodes,
nestles among enclosing mountains
and experiences snow IL months of
the year.
Garage work was completed in
time to permit of our attaining one
where he could gaze with delight
upon the glories of the mighty Teton
peaks. These mountains of pccu-
liarly striking outline will eventually
become a part of the Yellowstone
system. For several hours the next
day these mountains lay before us at
varying angles as we moved on to-
ward the south entrance of Yellow
stone Park, and now after several
days there is a longing for another
glimpse of this pile of shapely rock;
such is the attractivenesS of the Te-
tens.
Arriving at the park a stop was
made to register and pay the Gus
tomary fee of $3.50 which sum should
never be regretted after enjoying the
multitude of natural phenomena of
this national paradise. Ours was the
fist Maine car from Maine entering
at the south gate. Despite the
abundance of flowing water, our first
warning was to drink only water at
designated points. West Thumb on
Yellowstone Lake was reached after
driving 10 miles through dense forest.
and observing three deer cross our
track.
On a rise above the lake, which is
71SS feet above sea level, we Joined a
large number of other campers. Here
we found spring water conveyed
through pipes for the use of the camp
crs. as is the case in all the camp
spots in the park. The chief interest
of the evening centered in the visit of
members of the bear family to camp.
These bruins are very tame, though
they have trick of sometimes most
affectionately hugging one until food
it produced. They are partial to ba-
con and have made midnight visit to
camp, rummagng through the food
boxes of campers. Before dark that
same evening we investigated the
source of the rise of steam from the
ground and were given our first glimpse
of geyscrs. bubbling, sizzling. rumbling
and shouting. Just as dark came on
Lake Geyser performed one of its hour
ly shootingS of boiling water eight feet
into the air. The next morning we OBJ
tanned a better view of the paint pots
and their bubbling mud of various
hueS.
Another day was filled by travel
marked by ascending one of the steep
est grades to the top of the knotted
Woods, $500 feet now and then on the
shelf of the mountain. At Lake juno
ton another of the attractive log
buildings houses supplies needed or de-
sired by campers and sightseers. Fur
Their on Mud Gcyser and Dragons
Mouth were visited. and are best eX-
planned by their acquired names. Cross
ing the very graceful Chittenden
bridge. of concrete construction. the
climb to Artists Point was made. From
this point one is entranced by the view
of this beautiful canyon. In the dis
tance are the adorable Upper Falls
dropping 132 feet. flowing at the bot
tom of a many-colorcd chasm of pecu-
liar charm. We crossed from this
point to the west side of the park.
passing the top of Virginia Cascades
that fell far below us to the bottom of