2 10 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Feb. 6, 1909. 
cut over and everywhere dry pine tops lay, a 
constant invitation to fire, a menace to settlers 
and campers. Only a lighted match or a coal 
from a pipe and incalculable damage would re¬ 
sult. How much longer will the “State permit 
such foolishness? 
As we had resolved that our Thunder Moun¬ 
tain camp was to be a permanent one, we de¬ 
bated long and earnestly as to its location, set¬ 
tling finally upon an open space at the foot of 
a big rock near the South Branch of the Thun¬ 
der, about half a mile east of the mountain. 
Tliere were several things we wanted to do, 
among which were to climb the mountain, to fish 
both the North and South branches of the Thun¬ 
der. investigate Whisky Creek, take a look at 
Frying Pan Lake, and I had to go back to High 
Falls for the grid) jve had cached there, for 
our larder was about empty. As food was of 
prime importance, the first morning after mak¬ 
ing camp I set out for High Falls. I shall not 
soon forget that morning walk. The distance 
was six miles, the trail good and I took my 
time, keeping a sharp lookout for deer, for there 
is a certain pleasure in seeing deer, even if one 
cannot shoot them. I found a large crew of 
men at work at High Falls breaking out foun¬ 
dation stone and a rude cook shanty marked 
the site of our erstwhile pleasant camp. Above 
the roar of the falls could be heard the ring 
of the sledges and the gay laughter of the happy 
workmen, all of which was gall and wormwood 
to me, so I lingered only long enough to pack 
mr^ sack; then I turned back, reaching camp at 
twelve Wife and Girl had requisitioned a near¬ 
by hay marsh for bedding, and the comfortable 
couch was welcome to my aching bones, as the 
substantial meal of bacon and beans was wel¬ 
come to the “inner man.” 
Our excursion to Thunder Mountain was full 
of interest. At Wausau a few years ago I was 
told that Rib Hill was the highest point in the 
State. Now, I am informed that Thunder Moun¬ 
tain is the highest. Be that as it may, the latter 
is well worth climbing. Its summit, 1,800 feet 
above level of Green Bay, is crowned with a 
belt of hard timber, and when we were there 
the whole eastern slope was a mass of sun¬ 
flowers. Standing on the bald rock, a magnifi¬ 
cent view of the wilderness was spread out at 
our feet. Apparently, we had the world to our¬ 
selves. Though the atmosphere was hazy, yet 
we were enabled to make out ten lakes in the 
wilderness. It is said the Indians regard the 
mountain with superstitious horror and will not 
camp in its vicinity, for—so runs the tale—once 
upon a time an Indian battled with a gigantic 
snake all one day, till as the sun was going down 
the Great Spirit came to his aid and the snake 
was thrown into the lake on the northern slope 
of the hill where it drowned, but its spirit re¬ 
mains to plague the red man. I have been told 
by different people that at times the mountain 
mutters and rumbles—whence its name—but we 
camped at its base for a full week and never 
heard it; moreover, the habitue of the country, 
to whom I am indebted for the legend, informed 
me that he had lived on its slopes for six months 
at a time and had never noticed a disturbance. 
This story would not be complete without 
some mention of “Thunder River Frank,” the 
half-crazed individual, who lived in the vicinity 
for years, digging at various points for the yel¬ 
low metal, always disappointed, but always dig¬ 
ging. At last the Great Spirit whispered, as he 
had before whispered to the Indians, “It is 
enough,” and Thunder River Frank dropped his 
spade and pick, leaving as his monument the 
gaping holes in the crust of the earth. A wasted 
life? I do not know; I doubt if "you or I will 
take more with us into the great beyond. May 
we labor as faithfully, for as Stevenson said, 
“To journey is better than to arrive.” 
One day we followed down the South Branch 
as far as the forks—the junction of the North 
ONE OF THE BROOKS NEAR CAMP. 
and South branches—and simply to say that we 
had good fishing is not doing justice to the 
stream. Just below our camp the stream tumbled 
over a ledge of rock fifteen or twenty feet high, 
making one of the prettiest waterfalls it has ever 
been my lot to behold. For a little way the river 
wandered through dense woods, then as though 
weary of the shade, it found its way to the 
meadow; and there was fishing, the best meadow 
fishing we have ever enjoyed. Girl spied an 
MAKING PIE IN CAMP. 
ancient pole bridge and she “just knew” there 
was a monster lurking in its shade, so she care¬ 
fully crept through the grass and tossed her 
bait into the water. Immediately sundry minia¬ 
ture shrieks and exclamations announced a cap¬ 
ture worth while, and it was a goodly speckled 
trout, one that a more experienced angler might 
well have been proud to hook and land. I must 
not take time to recount the various battles Wife 
and the Girl fought, nor the number of fish they 
caught; but, brother sportsmen, you who do not 
believe in taking the family into the woods, if 
you could have seen them you would have been 
converted right there. Just below the forks there 
is a fall and the remains of an old dam. a relic 
of log-driving days. There I lost a rainbow 
which I think was* the largest of the trip. Twice 
I hooked him and twice he escaped by leaping 
from the water. Then I fell in. 
Another Sunday rolled around and we pre¬ 
pared a meal that was highly satisfactory. It 
is surprising what an outdoor woman can pre¬ 
pare for the table with only the meager supplies 
of a pack at her command. Some time Wife and 
I are going to prepare a cook book for outers 
(ye gods of the cuisine!) and call it “Kinks For 
Kamp Kooks.” Till then, suffice to say that one 
can live well in the open if he only knows how. 
We visited Frying Pan Lake, east of the 
mountain, and standing there on its banks, the 
stories of other fishermen ringing in our ears, 
we longed to try our luck upon its green water, 
but the lack of a boat hindered. In that little 
lake are some of the largest trout to be found 
in Wisconsin. Go in early spring and the re¬ 
sult will surprise you. Another bit of water 
worth trying is Squaw Lake over near Whisky 
Creek. I never met a man who had fished it, 
but the fish are there, for we saw them jumping. 
Whisky Creek is a little stream, difficult of ap¬ 
proach. Trout are there, but you will break 
your rod, lose your flies, your fish and your 
temper. Do not attempt to fish it unless you are 
possessed of the patience and equanimity of Sir 
Izaak himself. 
All too soon the team came for us and we 
were whirled out to Ellis Junction, and that 
night we were back at the desk again. 
Have I made it clear that women and children 
need not fear to attempt such a trip? With a 
little knowledge of how to do things, a firm re¬ 
solve to take with a smile whatever fate sends, 
and an abiding faith in your own ability to cope 
with circumstances, you may tread the way of 
the wilderness and have a good time. 
Overland Travel. 
A CORRESPONDENT ill the Middle West is plan¬ 
ning an extended overland journey and asks for 
suggestions which some of our readers may be 
in a position to give. It is his intention to begin 
his journey in the spring, and he will be grate¬ 
ful for hints as to the best way to build and 
equip a wagon for the purpose. Some might 
reply, as one did, on a similar occasion, “Use 
your own ‘injun-uity,’ ” but it is better to rely 
on the advice of veterans. 
It depends on the size of the wagon, but even 
one of moderate size can be fitted nicely with 
a folding bunk, drawers, lockers, etc., if it is 
the owner’s intention to live in it and not take 
a tent along. Perhaps some of our readers can 
give data relating to such a vehicle. Abroad 
such wagons are often seen, but special wagons 
for this purpose are in such small demand in 
America that there is no type, and we do not 
recall that anything on this subject in book form 
is available on this side of the sea. 
PURE MILK FOR BABY. 
Sanitary milk production was first started 
by Gail Borden in the early 50s. The best 
systems to-day are largely based on his 
methods, but none are so thorough and so 
rigidly enforced as the Borden System. For 
over fifty years the Eagle Brand Condensed 
Milk has proved its claim as the best food for 
infants.— Adv. 
