12 August 1913 – North Bend – Half way house

Arose 7A.M. Tom and myself left the Bend on Spot and Billie about 8 A.M. We rode along easily during the morning and Tommy was again satisfied in getting out in what he called God’s Country. When we struck the Grail we got off and walked and let the horses walk along alone in front of us. They kept far in front of us and soon we saw them no more until we walked clear to the Half Way House and Jean McNamara stopped them and tied them up. We had lunch and went soon on towards Taylors. Our kind friend Vetter gave us a chunk of bacon . Everything went along nicely. I took a picture of Tommy and horse at the Ladder where he had a close shave before and where many horses have been lost. Then, just when we were getting over the worse part of the trail at the mouth of Taylor River Tommys horse Spot got his right hind leg caught in between two rocks.  We could not force him back or pull his foot out and the more he tried to get out the worse it got. Then Tom decided to run back to the halfway house and get some help and a gun in case he should have to shoot him.

11 August 1913 – North Bend

Arose 5 A.M. breakfast. We packed up put valuables and blankets on Vetters horse and left cooking utensils for Hubbard to pack in Tuesday. We hiked to Bend after leaving 7:10 to 12 noon. We met Tom Perry 8 miles down trail leading Tom J. horse. He was enthusiastic over the beautiful woods, primevial forest and called it God’s Country, and cursed the day and sultry streets of the city. He wanted me to – but —– came back to the Bend where we loafed around the rest of the day.  He and myself planned to leave tomorrow and go back by the trail to Hot springs and come back in three days called folks up who are going to Far Away. $15.75 to the good get.

7 August 1913 – Half way house

Harvey left this morning riding a pack saddle with pack train.  Tom Perry after he and the others had chased around field for a couple of hours caught John Dary and he too went for home.  Gay, Stew and myself took a trolly ride across the river at Wells place. I met Mr. Wells. He was with Harold Hartman and Engineer Thompson, practically all the property on both sides of the river up to Government reserve starts at mouth of Pratt river. Tom Perry came back after finding John his horse was lame. Later he and Stewart left on other horses for the Bend late in afternoon. We sat around by fire in front of house and laughed at the crazy antics of the fellows from Issaquah. One that was the funniest was called Soapy. They named him Soapy because in running his confectionary store he always was getting schemes to get the nickels from the kids. His name is Armand Lake or something like that and he knows Charlie Robinson and Tom Grisscol very well –

Bed 11:30

4 August 1913 – Halfway House – Pratt River – South Fork

Arose 8:00. Gay had breakfast already cooked. Tom Taylor —- of Bill Taylor came along on his beat and told us a few of his experiences of cougar hunting. His traping cabin was at the nine mile mark on Pratt river and back up the hill to the left 2 miles. This place is not so far from Chair Peak. Later Bill Minser(n) came rambling along to ours and his surprise. At 2 P.M. after lunch Tom Perry and I packed up some blankets and grub and beat it up Pratt river trail. We were at Pratt river fork 4 P.M. The trail from the Half Way House to the fork winds along the Valley a ways above Pratt River. After crossing the fork, one starts climbing strait up the mountain to the right, switching back and forth. After a 1.9 mile walk up the trail you suddenly come to Pratt Lake Outlet and the pretty lake is back from the outlet. We arrived here at 6 P.M. had some bacon and bread for supper and gathered some ferns for our bed. We talked and admired the scenery. Tom was talking about what the other fellows were missing. We hit up a few tunes to scare the Cougars away but we had our trusty 30.30 and six shooter near us. Bed. 10 P.M.

Related links: Washington Trails Association – post from hiker in 2008 on Middle Fork trail, mentions Taylor River Ranger Station, Pratt River Trail and Halfway House cabin. Information on Chair Peak.

3 August 1913 – Half way house

Arose 8:30. Tom had most of breakfast cooked. About 10 A.M. Stew, Tom, Harvey, Joe, and myself crossed the river and walked upstream. Vetter had already left early in the morning for Snoqualmie Lake. We walked 4 1/2 miles on trail until we came to Taylor river 1/2 mile above its mouth. We fished down to the middle fork and caught fine trout about seven or eight inches long. The best so far. We crossed the river a ways up. The water was up to our knees and got on the main trail on the S.E. side of the middle fork and walked back to camp at 5 P.M. Gay and Tom had already been back for a couple of hours. They walked about 9 miles up Pratt river trail, stayed overnight and Gay the next morning caught about 80 trout in 1/2 mile distance down the creek but not as large as the ones we caught on Taylor river. Tom Perry, the renowned Progressive, gave us some of his famous speeches and stories. Bed 10 P.M.

2 August 1913 – Half way house – Middle Fork

Arose 7:00. Breakfast. The four men had already left. Gay and Tom P. after breakfast left for two day trip up the mountains. Taking a supply of greyband guns. I caught my first fish and biggest one yet. I broke my cedar fishpole landing him and stepped on it, but I pulled him in. Had some supper. Fish, beans, biscuits, cocoa etc. Natts were so bad we built a —– and smoked them out. Bed 10:30.

1 August 1913 – Half way house

Arose 6:30 A.M. — and Stewart came in 4 A.M. We found Tom P. and Gay lying in bed who were supposed to be sleeping by the peaceful river. Breakfast 35, Gay $3.00 for horses. Seven of us with packer left about 8:45 A.M. on horseback and four pack horses. After repacking the buckskin with a top heavy pack about four or five times we arrived at the half way house, owned formely by Lens about 1:30 P.M. We all chased the dirt of the big room and made things look half way decent and had dinner at 2:30. The Forest Service Warden, has his headquarters here and Guy knew him quite well. His name is G. Vetter. Of course he had let us know what the few rules were to show his authority. By supper we had camp fixed quite comfortable. Four young fellows on the way to the hot springs 15 miles up the trail stayed overnight. Went to bed at 10:30.

31 July 1913 – Seattle – North Bend

Got pack saddles and bags packed. Tom Jones, Tom Perry and Gay Fathering left barn at 6 A.M. and rode to North Bend. Stewart Miller, Harvey Linne, Joe Johnson and myself left on 4:30 P.M. Mon. train. Arrive North Bend at 8:30. Stayed all night in North Bend. Started out with $25. $10.90 for tickets were taken out —– money. Should —- [lists names and money amounts.] Bed 1:30 A.M.

14 July 1913 – Yukon River – Mountain Village

on the Str. Sarah. Mountains Village, Arose 9:20 just in time have some breakfast. 10:30A.M. we arrived at mountain canyon Indian Camp. Living as usual in tents and huts some frightfully dirty and with awful stench. A couple were clean and tidy and clean looking native and wife. The dirty ones have a hut as described before with dirty straw mat to sleep on, cans and pans lying around, fish bones, a small fire in center with pot in it. About 4 feet off of ground are poles strung across with fish strung on them drying and being smoked by the fire. The salmon when caught by net are slit open on bottom, cleaned, slit open near tail so they will loop on poles but the head and tail are left on. When clean Indians eat fish they cut off skin, head and tail and just dry meat which does not look so bad. Here they have their little Esquimo boats all covered except hole where man sits, but the boat is made of canvas. These are not Esquimos only natives, still their winter garb gives them that appearance. The boat went about a mile up the shore and a couple of the natives drove a herd of about a 100 Reindeer from back of hill. A sight I would hate to have missed. The men kept them cornered until enough pictures were taken. They continually tried to get away or stampede but if few got away they would not leave the group. Then they let a couple get away and the rest stampeded and they sure can run. I took about 6 pictures and I hope they will turn out good. We left about 12:30. This afternoon Mr. Dour a painter showed us his notes of views as we traveled along. He does it with oil colors and uses a little mortar like tool. They were beautiful and showed great skill, some sketched while on a moving train. In the evening about 11:00 the boat ran in shallow water and grounded. Natives came out it boats to sell souveniurs to those on board. Two came out in the skin canoes. Ramey Jr. after hesitating navigated about in one of the canoes. In the meanwhile quite a crowd was watching. I got in one which was a little tippier then the other. I went out about 10 feet from the boat and shaking the canoe like one shivering; Ma wanted me to come back which I did. Them Mr. Peoples tried but did not get so far as I did. Them Ramey was confident of his ability and got in the tippy one and paddled about. Mr. Peoples took the other one and was successful, then I tried and went along easily but they sure are top heavy. One weighs about 40 pounds. Then I suggested to Ramey we go in swimming, and said sure. I got some suits from Ma. Percy Perry took Ma’s suit – Ben Palmer wore Donalds suit. Which were very laughable in their garb. We furnished the crowd with some amusement for half hour. Palmer and Perry both tipped over in canoes to increase the fun. It was my first ride —- and also swim in North Yukon River at 12:00 midnight.

Related links: A history of reindeer in Alaska, information on Sheldon Jackson a presbyterian minister who introduced the idea of bringing reindeer to Alaska. 70.8% – a blog with photographs and information on kayaks