Year: 1867

SILVER LAKE, August 5th, 1867.


EDITOR CHRONICLE During the last
week the escapes from death by drowning,
and otherwise, of our party, have been very
numerous. Recovering from the severe sick
ness with which four Of the party were
attacked on our arrival here, 1, in company
with select party, paid visit on Wednesday
last to what is called the Spur" and Kirk
woods valley. After an uphill drive of
about four miles the Spur was reached, from
which a most beautiful view is presented.
A large, deep, and extremely rocky valley is
spread beneath the gaze of the vlsitor-piles
on piles of rocks, of every size and shape
streams of pure cold water, and little lakes
nesting among groves of huge pines, frs and
cedars. Some of the masses of rock are ex-
tremely beautiful, resembling ruins of large
cities. a person visiting this Lake who
neglects to see the view presented from the
Spur, has missed one Of the great attractions


The road by which the mountain is reached
and descended is the Amador Wagon Road


In some places the grade is good, but the
road descending the Spur on the other side
is in very bad state. AS we went dom
towards Kirk woods, we came to very mar
row spot in the road, where the snow had
not yet melted, and as we drove over it, the
wagon commenced sliding off, We struck
the top log of the culvert just as the wagon
reached solid ground, knocking the log off
and down into the valley. A minute sooner
would have precipitated the whole load two
or three hundred feet below onto the rocks.
We drove on to kirkwood's, which is situa-
ted in beautiful little valley, as level as
floor, and watered by two or three little
streams, got dinner, and returned much
pleased with the trip. On Friday four of us
went to attend ball at Stephens Station, in
Hope Valley. The drive of IA miles is very
tedious, being most of the way up hill. For
quite little piece we travelled on snow, the
north side of the hills being mostly covered
yet. We passed on the way Twin Lakes,
and Red Lake, the latter so called from a
peculiar pink tinge which the water has
Twin Lakes are two small bodies of water
connected by narrow channel between two
hills. Stephens Station is at present kept
by Alex. FOlger, who once occupied the
editorial chair of the Alpine Chronicle, but
who became disgusted with the life of a
mountain editor, and went to keeping a
hotel-and most accommodating host he
| makes. The ball i'll the evening, although
not large, was pleasant, the article said to
$50 bthe the savage breast being furnished
by Church Brothers and Jones. We re-
turned here on Saturday, to find that our
| cabin had been nearly washed away. and the
balance Of the party nearly drowned by a
heavy fall of rain the day previous. 1t was
said to be the heaviest rain which has ever
occurred at the Lake since it has been in
habited. One cabin was completely washed


out the water being over two feet deep in it
cleaning out eatables, clothing, beds and


women. One party of ladies camped in a
| tent just above us was compelled ito stand
| for an hour or more in from two to three feet
| of water. On our return we found our
clothes and bedding rather damp, to say the
| least, and the rictuals in good condition
to be thrown away. Such, however, is one


of the beauties of camp life. The thunder


and lightning here are said to be tremendous.
| We passed on the road numbers of trees
| which had been struck. But with all the
numerous inconveniences which ''campsters'


experience, our ardor is not dampened, and


we expect to stay as long as the trout in the
| Lake hold out. or until it becomes too cold


to stay any bnger. And as the latter is
likely to happen first. why September will


probably see the Lake deserted, and one of
| the last to leave it will be NOBODY.


The Unioi meeting at Spring Valley on