Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-10-04
HIDDEN CANYON
CONTAINS LOVELY
MOUNTAIN LAKE
STATES LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS
HAVE NUMBER OF SCENIC
ATTRACTIONS

Hidden away In a wonderful and
aWe-full canyon at the very foot of
Badly is a lake, serene and peaceful
at times, and black with the depth Of
1t; like a sapphire. now blue, now
green, winking and sparkling up at
one from its home in the gray stone
bowl which is the crater of Badly. 1t
is quiet, however, only at times, for
this way and that In the little basin
in which 1t nestles, ruffling its sur
face mysteriously and amazingly IN
pigmy imitation of the sea in an angry
storm. 1t makes us wonder what giant
in humorous mood is careleSsly han
ding the bowl and teasingly tipping
it back and forth till it's jeweled con-
tents threaten to run over and away
Three other smaller lakes are also
found here.
Many tiny streams have their source
in this larger lake, most Of them, how
ever, after a very short existence find
ing a graveled and rocky home under
the bed Of the canyon, perhaps form
ing large underground rivers and
lakes. We only surmise this, but we do
hlAOM b4AdJ CfClI CGhAAy O4A eA40 CFCAy
gulch adjacent to Baldy's crater gilt
tiers and flashes with many small
springs and rills that appear and
wend their short ribbon-like way to
other and larger streams or disappear
in some sink hole. 1t would seem that
underneath the bed of the canyon
hereabouts must be numerous caverns
which receive the water for it must
go some place.
Disappearing Streams
One place in Dry Wolf where the
creek has deepened and widened and
becomes a muddy torrent of hurrying,
angry water, suddenly we come upon
a whirlpool which drier seasons have
shown us to be very deep, and here
the water boils and whirlS and glIrgles
down as though the thirsty giant previ-
ously mentioned, had stationed him
self beneath, mistaken the creek for a
jug of moon and is tip-tilting it toll
quench his July thirst.
Placer creek, which empties into Dry
Wolf, is also a disappearing stream
and they are both the cause Of much
speculation as to the reason for their
habit of so frequently taking French
leave Some time ago while well was
being excavated near the ranger sta
ton, the bottom of it suddenly fell
out. Needless to say the well was
abandoned This is within perhaps half
a mile Of the sink hole IN Dry Wolf
Some maps give the height of Badly
as 1900 feet and others $500. It isl
reached after a hike Of five or six
miles which every hiker agrees seems
like at least million.
Badly Is the highest point in the
Little Belt mountains, being 500 feet
higher than the next highest point.
This huge hill slopes more or less
gently down to the adjacent valleys
on the south, west and north, but on
the east a sheer wall of rock-a wall !
with immense assures and crevices
hacked and gouged out Of granite,
furnishing tmpregnable fortreSses for
the eagle and the mountain goat. One
could spend many idle hours here
sitting on the roof Of the Little Belts |
gazing down into the appalling depth
Of the crater, but over it and beyond
TO the far border Of peaks and sum-
mits that encircle the canyon forming
a small paradise for the wildlife that
Is abundant and almost undisturbed
here In its natural habitat, the little
travelled, little known waste country
at the foot Of Badly.