The Sunday Oregonian., June 08, 1902, PART FOUR, Image 25

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VOL. XXL -
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE S, 1902.'
NO. 23.
seENie eHAKMS OF mouwttvdams
WILD BEAUTY OF THE REGION WHERE MA
ZAMAS WILL PITCH TENTS NEXT MONTH
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? JrtT. HOOP
. fROM THE
,TOUT LAKE
OUNT ADAilS Is, perhaps, . less
known to Portlanders than any
other principal mountain' peak In
this region; nevertheless, as she raises
her head 12,000 feet above the .surround
ing country she may look down upon
scenes of unsurpassed beauty and Inter
est. It Is manifestly difficult to give
more than a brief review In this short
ortlclo of the points of Interest -which
that vicinity presents to view. Nature
has been lavish in her gifts to man, but
In no soctlon has she been more so than
In the regions lying about Trout Lake, on
the shores of which the llazamas will
Titch their tents July 14 to 21 for the out
ing for 19&2.
The old mountain rears her head many
thousand feet above the lake, and the
water seems fully to appreciate her beav
ty, accentuates It by the additional reflec
tion of hor magnlflcent outlines, and ;the '
fringe of green timber along the shores
adds another, gift of nature to the beautK
ful picture. Great fields of lava, belched
forth from the bowels of the earth, have
tpread over the country, and In the cool
ing thereof many beautiful caves were
formed; ono known as the Great cave,
some 35 feet in height and 30 feet in width,
with a floor as level as the street, has
been explored for the distance of half
a mile, and I doubt not if one would un
dertake the Inconvenience of crawling
through the smaller openings, he might
traverse the country under ground for
many miles, without any particular dan
ger, but with an increasing interest In the
phenomena. Some of these caves, lying
at a higher altitude, say about 2000 feet,
are known as the ranchers "Ice houses."
The freezing current of air which seems
to come from high up on 'the side of
Mount Adams, traversing the distance
through these subterranean passages
causes the dripping water to form
beautiful ice stalactites and stalagmites
many feet in length, and a floor of Ice
In addition thereto. Some of these caves
are very large, and are used as refrigerat
ors the year around. The bright sun
shine but a few feet away seems to have
but little effect upon these great crystal
cavos, and they, as well as the lava cav
erns, are well worth a visit. Enormous
pine treos grow above, and but a few feet
away the "father of the forest" rests his
bleaching bones upon the thin crust which
forms the roof of one of these vaults of
nature. "Romantic lovers may find a
beautiful path along the shores of the
lake," an inviting vista for the honeyed
words and lavish promises made. "The
old water wheel is there,", the sight of
which carries one back to the Egyptian
deserts lying along the banks of the Nilo
end which marks the ages of the Pha
raohs. "Nor are the pleasant pastoral
scenes wanting," the contented cow
bathes her feet In the pool below the wa
ter wheel, nor -wishes not that mortal man
must work.
t An Invitation. .
The roaring canyon is there, and the
log stretched across makes a bridge
which has been supplemented by a more
modern one, some 70 feot in holght. Be
neath the tall pines on the banks of
Trout Creek, the tents of the Mazamas
will spread their white wings, and from
this quiet spot the view of the mountain
through the trees is one not to "be sur
passed. "With all this, lying but a brief
Journey from Portland, why not all ye
who are wearied with ungratlfied aspira
tions for office throw all behind you and
Join the Mazamas as they wend their
way to these scenes of matchless beauty?
An outing of 10 days is nol a long time
from business, and that-10 days of rest
and recreation may add 10 years to your
life, a price not dearly bought. A Jour
ney up the Columbia, along whose shores
lie scenes of matchless beauty, always
new and always refreshing; passing by
Vancouver Barracks, the most beautiful
of Uncle Sam's military reservations, by
magnlflcent farms whose waving grain
bids you Godspeed; great pyramids of rock
look down upon you, and high cliffs -over
which dash the water of ' the beautiful
Multnomah, Horsetail and Latourell
Falls. Oneonta Gorge, the scone of Sheri
dan's battle with the redmen; Rooster
Rock, Castle Rock and Larch Mountain,
then the romantic city of Hood River,
and Anally "White Salmon; then a 27-mile
ride in a comfortable conveyance, over a
splendid "road, along the banks of the
"White Salmon, over hill and dale, and by
"White Salmon Falls; a few minutes for
refreshments, then the journey resumes;
a plunge Into the mighty forest, whoso
giant trees rear their heads many hun
dred' feet above you, the cooling shades
and the Invigorating odors, a multitude
of perfumes such as only nature can
furnish; thence onward and gradually
upward until the fir trees are left' be
hind, and the pine tree introduces hersali
to you, presenting charms of her own;
still onward, the banks of the "White
Salmon on the right, the precipitous
cliffs, fringed with green, on the left;
onward, still onward, until suddenly you
find yourself in the magnlflcent valley of
the Upper "White Salmon: across It, many
miles away, outlined before you, the
mountain sepulcher which received the
sleeping nun; nature sometimes furnishes
us with more solemn subjects with -which
to Illustrate her peculiar art work, and
presents to our view the outlines of one
who seems to have tired of all these
beauties and lay herself down on the crest
of the high mountain, turning her face
to the eternal region above, and toward
-which mortal man must sooner or later
wend his way.
This great valley is interspersed with
dairy farms, owned chiefly by the Swiss,
and those hardy people, mindful of tholr
own beautiful country, the- oldest repub
lican the world, lying high up In the
mountainous region of Europe, have cast
their lot In this, until recently, the young
est of the republics, and where the moun
tains would remind them of their child
hood days. Great quantities of dairy prod
uct are made here, and Mazamas will
have their appctltiea satisfied with delight
ful bits of cheese, delicious butter and
genuine cream. Nature, In other ways,
will contribute to the renewing of your
tired isolf, back to your old-time strength.
Trout and Hears and Thing:.
Trout Creek, White Salmon and other
streams are well stocked with frisky,
oluslvo trout. This member of the pisca
torial family s not aching to be caught,
on the fly, but the .sportsman never re
turns home, after a day's fishing, without
a basketful of the finny tribe, and these,
too, whother he had a pocketful of money
or not. Perhapp, ye fishermen, the trout
Is too swift for you; if so, turn your foot
steps toward Trout Lake, from the depth
of which you may take his more slug
gish, but not less vigorous brother, tho
bars and other flsh. Perhaps the gun ap
peals to you more if so, hie yourself to
the rivers and lowlands beyond the lake,
and the growling bear will give you a
reception equal to your best skill as a
marksman, for ho won .not of civiliza
tion, nor does he deal with man of his
own free will or accord, but visit bruin
In his native heath and disturb him while
he is regaling himself on the wild berries
of that region and he will require of you
such an accounting as will compel you
tq respond quickly and accurately, or you
will get an affectionate hug, one like that
which you, yourself, in your more effusive
J moment?, might be -willing to administer
to your best friend. Many deer there arc
and elk as well; the mountain goat looks
down upon you. from the high cliffs, but
the law protects IL The mountain lion
Is there, too, far back In the higher moun.
tains, and an occasional on well repays
the hunter for the extra exertion, and
adds to his collection the skin of this
Wild denizen of the forest.
For Mount Adams itself, much might be
said; with "with her double crown, the
Ridge o "Wonders, Red Butte, from the
top or -wnicn ine granaesi view in me
world may be had; the great flowing
Spring coming out of solid rock, which
j may have" been struck by another Moses,
and where the Mazamas will camp the
night previous to their ascent; the glades
at the head of Bird Creek, the splendid
glaciers, the precipices. One can wish for
but little with which to satisfy his scenic
appetite.
Professor H. "W. Reld, who was with us
on Mount Hood last year, and later on
visited Mount Adams, made extensive re
searches as to the glacial formation and
geological phenomena. Glaciers there are
on all sides of the mountain, grand and
subtle in their power. The Ridge of
"Wonders, above mentioned, lies on the
southeast of the mountain, at an elevation
of SOOO feet, and between the Mazama and
KUckltate glaciers; on its slopes, toward
the east, and. about two miles from the
upper end. Is Red Butte, a parasitic cone,
with a fell-formed crater, at an elevation
of little more than 7000 feet. It is ' from
the top of this butte that the grandest
panoramic view may be had.
"IV.here Indians Got Inspiration.
The Indians had great respect for this
mountain, and it was to the top of this
butte that .the medicine men wended their
way, there to meet the Great Spirit, with
whom they communed and from whom
they gathered their Inspiration and knowl
edge with which to perform their mar
velous cures; here, their spirits were final
ly to gather and be received by the Great
er One, and from thence, transported to
the happy hunting grounds where all
good Indians are supposed to go, and
-where game Is a plenty.
I have not mentioned Tum-Tum, a well
rounded butte of about 5000 feet elevation,
on the top of which lies an Indian burying
ground. White man, for a wonder, has
respected this, and the bones of the de
parted Indians the still resting there, wait
ing for their final summons to join the
other Indians In . the spirit land, across
tho great vale which divides the present
from the future. Great Indian trails worn
deop In the soil, still mark their lines
across this region, to the blueberry
swamps lying along the west fork of the
White Salmon, in Skamania County, a lit
tle to the southeast of Mount St. Helens.
For many ages, annually; the Indians
gathered in this region, coming from all
parts of the country. The race track is
still there, and one needs no great stretch
of imagination to recall that at-these an
nual feast gatherings, the bow, the arrow,
the hatchet were laid aside, the wampum
bag brought out, the kinnlklnic passed
around; and while the brave Indians en
Joyed all the pleasures pf tho pipe of
peace, the squaws were busy, preparing
food for the feast which continued for
many days, to be followed with return of
the tribes to their own hunting grounds,
there to take up their implements of war,
ffeL l
KOAD .ABOVE TROUT, LAKE - Mlc55n& e-ff
and, again to fight their brethren, with
whom they were a few days previous
dwelling -In peace. All this and more, too,
lies about the region wherein wjll camp
the Mazamas. and may this communion
with nature, this annual getting a little
closer to nature, be fruitful of results, and
remind man that there Is something be
side the strife of business and the din of
battle and that this something lies In the
direction of living and ' enjoying those
things which nature has given us and
which exist at our very doors.
Mountains In General.
Thousands of Oregonians wend their way
annually to the seashore, but Just why
they should prefer the water side to the
mountain tops is beyond my reasoning.
Those who take their way to the hills-and
the mountains are brought into contact
with the wonderful gifts of nature, the
portrayal of which has Invited the highest
skill of the most gifted artists. There
fore, ye Webfooters, who shall want to
cast your Summer outing by the seaside,
turn your attention to the beautiful moun
tains which He about Pbrtland. Nowhere
within the realm of Uncle Sam's domain
have' the upheavals of nature - produced
such truly magnlflcent peaks and ranges
as in this region.
I have not touched upon the Bridge of
the Gods which has invited tho attention
of our most scientific people, but as you
sail up the Columbia and approach tho
locks, allow your mind's eye to wander,
and . Imagine yourself riding be
neath ' the mighty stone arch on
the upper surface of which great
trees are growing, and over which
the -vvlld beasts and the savage wandered.
Imagine, If you will, he bloody battles
which may-have been fouzht between, tha
various tribes for control of this highway
over tho river. Imagine, if you will, the
usefulness of this great rock bridge pro
vided by nature. Stimulated by the re
cent upheavals of the West Indian vol
canoes, imagine that when the din of bat
tle between these savage host was at its
height old Mount Adams and Mount Hood
echoing the bloody sentiment which these
Redmen displayed, belched forth a great
volume of lava; the earth shook, its sur
face rent in twain, and amid the cries of
the contending foes the bridge falls with
a crash. The mighty Columbia rushing
on finds Its flow suddenly stopped, and a
great lake is created, that which now ex
ists only In valleys and rivers was then
a mighty lake whose shores kissed the
most high pinnacles of the surrounding
mountains. The cooling mass of lava
touched by tho overflowing water seethed
and boiled, the steam rushing heavenward
formed a cloud which drew a kindly man
tle over the carnage, which the mlghy ef
fort of nature had created.
One need not be an Idealist to see In his
mind's eye the transformation which na
ture has undergone to bring herself down
to that which Is now portrayed before us,
for .all these hills, dales and mountain
peaks He within a few hours Journey of
the beautiful city of Portland. Many
books have been printed, pages have beon
written on this subject, but'thebest book
Is the book which -nature-' Itself has given
you,k and which he who runs .may read,
especially he who runs to the mountains,
and from Its high pinnacles looks down
upon the many colored scenes which He
below. . Men's hair grows gray as old age
creeps on, hl3 strength decays; enfeebled
by sickness and bodily infirmities, he lin
gers on until death closes his eventful
da.v. Hanoi- Is ho If the settlns: splendor.
of a well spent life closes his day In peace,
harmony and brotherly love. It Is not
so with the old mountains; they linger on
forever, their hair has grown to a white.
Nature has not found fatigue in old age,
nor does nature manifest therein any par
ticular changes, except It may be a slight
wearing away of its rocky surface. but
the green fringe which skirts tho border
of these1 mountain peaks adds new luster"
to it, giving a youthful charm to its ap
pearance which reminds us that the "sear
and yellow leaf' does not come to the old
man in the mountain.
Tho Mazamas Invite all to Join them.
Those taking part in tho outing are not
required to be members of tho society.
However, if you wish to get tha benefit
of tho special rate which they have se
cured. It will be necessary for you to make
arrangements relative thereto with them.
ALBERT J. CAPRON.
The Aisles of the 'Wood.
Ho is not wise who would shun the Joy
Of the life that Is called alone
To roam tho wood, with the heart of Sprint
Soft beatins against his own.
To watch the clouds as they form or fade.
By the breath of the wind-tide klssed-
On the ocean blue of boundless sky.
With its filmy veil -of mist.
To hear tho minstrels of high degree
Outpour from their eager throats
In lyric rapture, divine and deep.
Their current of golden notes.
To touch the blades of the keen, soft grass.
And flowers that star the sod
Children of bloom who can only speak
In the vernal tongues of God.
He Is not wise who would shirk his part
In the Master Gardener's plan.
And' shun the aisles of the ardent wood
To follow the ways of man.
William Hamilton Hayav,