THE GREAT NORTHWEST 255 



are to be encountered, distances to be covered and 

 obstacles to be surmounted in the search after speckled 

 trout ? It struck us, but not until after we had tried 

 it. We had so many broken promises of good trout 

 fishing on this trip and so many disappointments, that 

 when we reached Banff and found that — although 

 there was any quantity of the fish there — it was close 

 season in the park and we couldn't fish, we were about 

 giving up all idea of ever seeing a trout. Just then 

 we stumbled over a fellow who told us of a wonderful 

 little lake, recently discovered and only fished in for 

 the first time two months ago. He said the lake was 

 located at Castle Mountain, seventeen miles from 

 Banff. 



Taking his word that it was full of trout, and not- 

 withstanding his warning that he doubted whether 

 our power of roughing it would hold out till we got 

 there, we determined to go and find out whether he 

 was a fish romancer or not. Our car was pulled there 

 in the early morning. A guide had come with us from 

 Banff, who filled us with glowing predictions of the 

 luck we were going to have, but kept very dark about 

 the difficulties and dangers of the trip. Seven of us 

 started with him, unconscious of what was before us. 

 He had led us along a small creek to a frail crossing 

 made by a fallen tree. This was so slippery that one 

 of our party lost his footing, tumbled, and had to go 

 back for dry clothes. 



