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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 851 GLIMPSES OP WILLAMETTE VALLEY. 1)R0BABLY no better or more satisfactory bird's-eye L glance at the flower of the Willamette Valley can bo obtained than is afforded by a good view from the summit of Mary's Peak, or " June Peak," as it is called U,,,..r l,;,.l, .,il i X J J. xl 1 unun, nuivu mui w.i a jjioin uepui uunng ine long winter months on the summit of this peak, generally disappears some time in June, and hence the origin of the name " J une Peak. Mary's Peak is located in Benton County. about eighteen miles almost due west of Corvallis. With out doubt it is the highest mountain along the entire length of the Coast Range. One bright, lovely morning, early in August, a party of four, including tho writer, left the lively town of Corvallis, fully equipped for tho excursion to tho summit, and turned their faces to tho west Two hours' leisure riding brought us to the lower end of Little Mary's River Valley, or "Oroasy," as it iH known in slang parlance among the early settlers of that region. Here we diverged from the main route of travel and entered the foothills, which lead by somowhat abrupt gradations to the main Coast Range. From that time on, until the base of tho mountain was readied, our progress was slow and toilsome. Tho party moved for ward very deliberately, now winding arquml the base of a sharp projecting spur, climbing along tho stoop side of a hill, riding "single file" as we followed tho narrow trail through dense forests and -tangled thickets, or, again, plunging with cautious stops down a deep, rugged canyon, gloomy in morning shadows, and still damp with the uudried dews of night. About two o'clock tho base of tho peak was reached. Before commencing the wearisome ascent the party halted and discussed, with hearty relish, an excellent lunch. Shortly before three o'clock we started up tho stoop trail that led a zig-zag course along the side of the peak. Full three hours were consumed in reaching the summit, as we moved very slowly under tho sweltering afternoon sun, and paused at short intervals to allow our jaded liorsos an opjortunity of recovering their wind It was late in the afternoon before wo cleared the thick lxslt of timber and entered tho small prairie that crowned tho extreme summit Pousing for a few minutes the party rested, and then commoncod a tour of olworvation, deter mined to utilize tho brief interval of day that remained. Evening was moving rapidly apace. Already the sun was low down near the horizon, and the sky was glowing with roseate tiuU L irgd shadows ware creeping across the summit and stretching far down tho mountain's side. Within less than an hour summer twilight would gutly wrap the mountains and valleys. A few minutes' walk brought tho party to tho highest jxiint of tho peak. This jxt was found at tho extreme southeastern point of the mountain. Hero was a long ledge of rock, which overhung tho precipitous sido of the jwak. Several small, stunted spruce trees grew out from the' fissures of tho lodge, their roots clinging to the rugged sides, and drawing from tho sterile ond reluctant soil a mcogcr life. Tho topmost branches of these dwarf trees rose only a few feet alx.ve the edgo of the projecting rocks. Those standing thoro could easily look over their raggtxUi unU nnd ol.Luu ua UiiuLutractcJ vicT rf tho broad panorama of landseaK lielow and IwyomL Standing thus, with the sun jiiHt sinking Itohind the waves of tho Pacific Ocean, with the cloudless Bky bathed in hues of purple, gold and red, with tho whole visible world steeped in tho soft glamour of the sunset hour, what a scono of grandeur and lsmuty spread out Itoforo us! Far to tho southeast nwo the dark, wooded outlines of tho Cnlnpooiii Mountains, stretching from Const Rango across to Cascades. This rango constitutes the southern boundary of tho Willamette Valley proior. From be tween the foothills of the Cascades and Calaxxia, where those approach and fuse into one, nponrod the Maokon zio Fork, one of the chief tributaries of the Willamette ltivor. lis course could be dimly traced winding through the distant hills, until the stream rushed upon tho fertile valley east of Eugene, Following its course the eye noted each turn until its waters mingled with the other parent fork known as tho Willamette ltivor. United, the stream, widened and decerned, moved onward in its march to tho ocean. Kach turn and wind of the Istatitiful river was clearly marked by tho broad, green lxlt of tiin. Iter growing along the banks. Down the rich valley glided tho stream; hero moving in a straight Hue fur several miles; there twisting like a gigantic serpent, In places almost turning back uxu its general course; winding among the oak-clad hills of Lauo; along through the fertile plains of Linn and Benton; past the rich fields of yellow, waving grain and the smiling homes of thrifty, happy farmers; past the cheerful hamlets of Harrisburg, Monroe and Peons; past t!i moro proton. tioiis towns of Corvallis and Albany, whose white resl- lences, somlier-huod brick buildings and church spires showed vaguo and misty in the ml light of the expiring lay. Onward, onward, flowed the clear, lovely river, expanding and deotMtuiiig as it glided softly toward its far-off ocean home, glancing and gleaming like a broad riblxni of burnished silver as its waters Hashed into view between occasional oxmings in its green environment. Onward, ever onward, singing its low musical lay, as the waters fretted the ohbly shores, until the stream fadml away, lost in the dreamy, mysterious distance amidst tho emerald hills of Polk and Marion counties. Sweeping tho eye. along the valley south, what diversified panorama was presented I Latin County spread out its broad, rich acres of prairie, timlx-rod plain and undulating upland. lute cottages dotted the laudscaH) liko mere speck ill a sen of dark verdure. Fields of golden grain uoddixl in the twilight wind with their swelling promise of abundant harvest. Several small streams, leaving the base of the Cascade, wound across tho country and poured their watery stores into the Willamette. Far above the surrounding lundxcnpe roso the Ixild knob-shaod head of Htoncr'a Butte. Westward the eye roved aero the V illamette River and txk in at one eoiiiprehensivo glance the southern , portion of BonV'U. The Coast Range, trending south.