The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-08-04
Enthusiastic
Over Beauty
Mountain Trip
Four Libby Men Enjoy Hike
Through High Lands
West of City.
VIEWS BEAUTIFUL
BEYOND DESCRIPTION
BY A. A. Wood

a nodding acquaintance with Dome
we recognize Sugar Loaf by its
gumdrop top, we know that Flower
creek is the source of the city's wa
ter supply and that Scenery noun
tain has a lookout but we miss the
charm of the great outdoors when
we do not form a more intimate as
ISOLATION with the many points of in
terest and beauty surrounding
Libby.
Last week George Hayes, contact
man with the forest service, con-
Quoted a three day hike for party
of tenderfeet through the rough sec
ton southwest of town. He selected
hot weather and some steep climbs
and while he was forced to ride
herd on his pilgrims to keep them
form taking five" in every shady
spot, he brought them out with
nothing more serious than a few
blisters on their feet. They, ON the
other hand, came back impressed
with the grandeur of our mountain
scenery and thrilled with the views
that reward anyone who will work
his way up to the vantage points.
With faithful Jenny carrying the
grub and the bed rolls, the party
struck up the Flower Creek trail
to Hanging Valley. A sort of
mystery hangs over this glacial
cirque for a game trail is the only
road into it and few have penetrated
into the secrets that lie back of
the waterfall. Frequent consulta-
.+1nx<d fhn fnrocfrxY
ever brought out the decision that
the valley was trip in itself and
the party pushed on to Sky lakes at
the headWaters of Flower creek.
Owassa or Flicker Greek lakes are
other names for these inviting fill
ing stations that nature has planted
SO plantiful high in the mountains.
The ordinary idea of lake is a de-
preston below the rest OF the coun-
try and the surprise of finding a
body of clear water with rocky
shoreline near the mountain top
adds to the zest of the climb.
With her pack off and her nose
bag on, Jenny looked on tolerantly
while the rest of the party got in
each others way in their hurry to
boil the billy of coffee and brown
the bacon. There may be some
foods that are not on the preferred
list at home but after headin' for
the hills, not single item on the
menu is scratched. A camp fire be-
side crystal lake that CLOVIS warm
with the setting sun; twilight and
the purple creeping down the slopes
to cover them with a soft mantle;
then the stars to light the dim out
line of the distant crags is an ex-
perience that makes nature lover
out of the most confirmed city dude.
The mosquitoes had been without
fresh meat for some time but the
sleeping bags on the fir boughs
were waiting and with the tarp over
our heads, the night sounds and the
drone of insects gradually ceased
only to be rudely interrupted by a
disturbance that proved to be George
starting fire for it was daylight
and another day of adventure was
ahead Stories of big bears and an
uneasy habit of Jenny in looking
back down the trail proved to be
part of the entertainment of the
versatile guide.
What highways are to the city, the
trail is to the forest; an artery of
travel with easy grades and con-
venient markers. While there was
some controversy about the mileage
indicated, the party found the trail
signs placed at frequent intervals a
source of great satisfaction and as
surance. George soon had his green
est hiker SO that he could spot a
year old trail blaze a hundred yards
away. Trail wise Jenny must have
smiled to herself when a human
took hold of the lead rope. She
would swing out just enough to al
low the pack to miss tree, she test
ed every bog and slide rock before
she put her weight on it, she pa.
tiently waited for hoof print tc
refill with water from a tiny spring
SO that she could drink and in {
dozen ways she gained the respect d
her less travelled companions
Around Sugar Loaf to the South
Fork of Parmenter where Minor
lake furnished German Brown trou
for noon meal and then clint
over the dozen switchbacks of tn,
Parmenter Trail brought the travel
ers to Upper Cedar, lake of elias
sic beauty with a high background
of tinted rock that became sky
scraper in New York, an old feuda
castle or a backdrop on a grea
stage as ones fancy changes.
BY the end of the second day tn
procedure had become standardized
packs off, Jenny picketed, fishin
tackle out, a raft built while tn
unlucky kitchen detail figured on
supper from the fast disappearin
commissary stores.
The forest service have selecte
a fine spot for camp site at Ceda
lake as they have in many place
One of the party, "Old Inventory
insisted on gathering up all the oil
cans and rubbish to make the plac
CONTINUED on page 81