FOREST RECREATION DEPARTMENT 



245 



shapely bulk to the south, flanked on the east by Flatiron 

 Mountain and on the west by the mountains which we 

 had passed in our journey down Gordon Creek. 



The trail from the point where the river is forded leads 

 down the prairie for a mile or so, finally bringing one to 

 the ranger station, a building constructed of logs and 

 lumber which was whip-sawed on the spot. Sounds and 

 smells from within indicated that supper was in progress. 

 With the help of the ranger, our horses were quickly 

 unpacked and turned out to graze, and we were soon in- 

 stalled at the table doing full justice to a substantial sup- 

 per, the chief item of which consisted of fried trout, done 

 to a brown with meal and bacon, and heaped in a milkpan 

 of generous proportions. 



In contrast to the camp of the night before, this eve- 

 ning was spent in the cozy kitchen of 

 the ranger station, listening to stories 

 told by the rangers and two of the 

 fire guards who were returning from 

 their summer's vigil on Gordon 

 Mountain. As is usual in such com- 

 pany and under such conditions, the 

 conversation gained in color as it 



the Lake States. We of this day and age can hardly 

 realize the tremendous scale on which these logging opera- 

 tions were carried on at that time by the redoubtable 

 Paul. The enormous griddle necessary to fry hot cakes 

 for one of his smallest camps was greased by two stout 

 lads who slid over the surface with hams tied to their 

 feet. Henry, at 

 this point in the 

 tale suggested that 

 we go to bed, 

 which we did. But 

 next day, he made 

 several surrepti- 

 tious inquiries as 

 to the further 



NEIGHBORS AT BIG SALMON 

 Visitors appeared in camp that night and joined 

 our fireside party. They shyly admitted being 

 on their honeymoon, a fact which we had already 

 suspected before they were brave enough to confess. 



progressed and be- 

 came imbued with 

 that delicate im- 

 aginative quality 

 which, while never 

 deviating far from 

 the strict truth, yet 

 leads the listeners 

 into the realm of 

 the romantic and 

 i fantastic. The cul- 

 minating gem of the evening was a tale told for the edi- 

 fication of Henry, and the authenticity of which was 

 solemnly vouched for by at least two members present. 

 It dealt with certain logging operations carried on by an 

 individual, Paul Bunyan, lineal descendent of the great 

 moralist. Paul, it seems, had an eye to timber, and 

 managed extensive projects in the white pine woods of 



ON GORDON CREEK. FLATHEAD 

 NATIONAL FOREST 



Glacier, peak, timber and cliff tell their own 

 story of rugged alpine scenery and many a man 

 besides Henry, the man of this story wlio 

 sought the wilderness in company with his 

 friends, would welcome the need of roughing it 

 a bit to reach such mountain fastnesses. 



GORDON PASS TRAIL 



Each turn in the trail presents unusual pictures 

 of wilderness beauty. Rugged cliffs, carved by 

 water and wind and crowned by green timber 

 make a pleasing outlook framed by nearby trees. 



achievements of Paul, and by the end 

 of the trip, he had gained a creditable 

 familiarity with the history of this 

 great man, and was able to recite 

 without a smile many of the events 

 in his remarkable career. 

 Twelve miles below Big Prairie, hidden in the hills 

 west of the South Fork, lies Big Salmon Lake. Being far 

 off the main lines of travel, comparatively few people see 

 this beautiful sheet of water. Unspoiled by men or for- 

 est fire, it lies among the surrounding hills in wild love- 

 liness, to be sought only by the more adventurous travel- 

 er or sportsman. By unanimous agreement our party 

 decided to visit this secluded lake, and to idle for a day 

 or two in its vicinity before starting on the homeward 

 journey. 



Tired by the preceding days of strenuous travel, we 

 loitered along the trail, which below the ranger station 

 is much better than any we had lately traversed. Little 

 exertion was needed on our part, and we rested easily in 

 the saddle, jogging along to the monotonous sound of the 

 horse bell. The day grew warm as we progressed, and 

 soon most of our extra clothing was tied behind the 

 saddle. Whenever we stopped, numbers of flies made 



